SWAT: At least seven people have drowned into the unforgiving waters of the Swat River in the last 1o days here in Swat district. officials confirmed.
According to the rescue 1122 spokesperson, 55 people drowned in the Swat River in 2023 and at least 28 people have drowned from January 1 to June 26 this year( 2024).
This alarming number underscores the urgent need for institutions to take effective measures to protect the lives of children and youth.
The rescue 1122 spokesperson said that Among them, a young girl was rescued alive, three bodies have been recovered, and the search for the remaining three continues. The victims are primarily children and young adults, all under the age of 25.
During the hot summer months of June, July, and August, the Swat River attracts many visitors, especially young people, who seek relief from the heat by bathing or swimming. Unfortunately, due to carelessness and lack of swimming knowledge, many of these youths drown.
Shafiqa Gul, spokesperson for Rescue 1122 in Swat, told this scribe that seven people have drowned in the river in the last ten days. She recounted a recent rescue where a 12-year-old girl was saved by Rescuers and promptly transferred to Barikot Hospital for the treatment.
Tragically, on June 24, 9-year-old Subhan s/o Jibran drowned in Daral Khwar at Arian of Bahrain Tehsil and remains missing. The same day, two young cousins, Gohar and Irfan Ali, drowned at Mangwalar area in the Swat River.
Similarly, on June 25, 15-year-old Ameer Hamza r/o Tahirabad drowned near Kanju Bridge, and another man, Akbaruddin, drowned in the Shakardara area of Matta Tehsil.
Rescue 1122 and volunteer Muhammad Hilal recovered Ameer Hamza’s body the same day. On June 26, Rescue 1122 personnel recovered the body of Farman Ali from Shangla district during their ongoing search operations. The efforts to locate Akbaruddin and Liaqat, as well as 9-year-old Subhan, continue for the third consecutive day.
Despite a notification issued by the district administration on June 7, 2024, completely banning bathing, swimming, and boating in the Swat River, these incidents persist. The notification, issued under Section 144 of the Penal Code by District Magistrate Swat/Deputy Commissioner Swat Shahzad Mehboob, aims to curb the dangers posed by the river, yet enforcement remains law. Violators of this ban face prosecution under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
