MINGORA: As the death toll from the Swat River flash floods tragedy rose to 11 on Saturday with rescue teams recovering the body of another child, the provincial government suspended the deputy commissioner apparently amid growing outrage and public pressure.
Rescue 1122 officials said two persons from the same family remained missing, while rescue efforts con-tinued for the second consecutive day.
The tragedy occurred on Friday when a group of tourists, including members of a family from Sialkot, en-joying a picnic by the Swat River, were swept away by a sudden surge in water. Despite rescue efforts, many were caught in the powerful current. Four people were rescued in the initial response.
The director general Rescue 1122 stated that the search operation was being conducted in Khwazakhela, Kabal Bypass, and Barikot, with more than 120 rescuers from Swat, Malakand, and Shangla participating. Boats, divers, and modern scanning equipment were used to comb the riverbanks and deeper water channels.
Amid growing outrage and public pressure, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government suspended Swat Deputy Commissioner Shahzad Mahboob for alleged negligence and failure to enforce preventive measures in the area.
Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah visited the flood-affected areas of Swat to assess the situation. During the visit, he announced a ban on mining activities in riverbeds and directed strict action against hotels and other encroachments along riverbanks.
The chief secretary said that officials found guilty of negligence would be identified and held accountable as per the law.
To enhance emergency response, the office of the additional deputy commissioner (Relief) has been des-ignated as a “Response Centre” where officials from all relevant departments would remain on duty to coordinate relief operations.
Rescue teams were being equipped with modern tools, including drones, lifejackets, and other essential equipment. Drones will assist in locating stranded people and guiding rescue efforts.
The Irrigation Department was instructed to reassess and improve its early warning systems to ensure timely alerts in the future.
Additionally, patrol units comprising rescue, police, and administration personnel have been deployed across Malakand Division to monitor major rivers and ensure public safety.
Meanwhile, public protests erupted across several parts of Swat, with demonstrators expressing grief and anger over what they termed a preventable disaster. Among them was Pasoon, a local youth-led civil so-ciety group, which staged a protest outside the Swat Press Club.
The organisation demanded environmental protections, strict regulation of tourist zones, and accountability of officials responsible for the lapses.
Adding to the mounting pressure, Dr Haider Ali Khan, former MNA from Swat and local leader of the Pa-kistan Peoples Party (PPP), demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur during a press conference at the Swat Press Club. “This is a disaster rooted in neglect and mismanagement. The chief minister must accept responsibility and resign,” he said.
Also, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi criticized the provincial government for its delayed response and failure to prevent the tragedy, calling it a “man-made disaster caused by administrative incompetence.”
