Friday flash flooding in Fizagat area of Swat has killed at least nine people and 14 were reported missing, rescue officials said.
The sources state that the event took place when a strong rise in River Swat left tourists as well as locators unprepared. The floodwater affected a population of 80 individuals.
A coordinated rescue operation by Rescue 1122 with the help of Pakistan Army has saved 57 people as of now in the urgency response operation though 9 dead bodies have been pulled out.
The rescue teams are still searching after the 14 people who have gone missing, and they are having difficult time as the water current in the river is so strong, and the terrain is hard to access.
Fizagat is the worst-affected place as 18 people were carried away including the tourists that were at the riverbank following breakfast.
Deputy Commissioner Swat, Mehmood Shehzad has confirmed that the two families who went into river and took some pictures belonging to Punjab and Mardan were all caught in the flood. Rescue operation is in progress, he assured the media; identification will start after recoveries are done.
According to the eyewitnesses, most of the victims were tourists. Since then, the locals have been advised not to go to riversides and low-lying areas since the rains are still there in the monsoon season.
Flood response cell
Following the event, the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur installed a flood response cell and issued a direction to all relevant agencies to be on the high alert.
The spokesperson, Faraz Mughal, urged people to closely adhere to the guidelines issued by purposeful administration of the district and also stay out of places that could be flooded.
Rescue sources reported that nationwide 14 people have been killed by the first spell of the monsoon so far.
To the bereaved Saudi families, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have mourned the loss of lives and demanded the concerned authorities to make the rescue and recovery effort quick.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and CM Gandapur showed their regret, also stating that the tragedy was quite depressing, and the government was ready to accommodate affected families and perform more searches.
