Body of Missing Boy Recovered from Swat River After 21 Days

The remains of a young boy who disappeared in the Swat River have been discovered, 21 days after he was carried away along with other family members.

Rescue personnel have confirmed that the body of Abdullah, a child from Sialkot, was located on Thursday in the Barikot area of Swat district.

Rescue 1122 Swat had been engaged in a persistent and thorough search operation since June 27.

Authorities stated that Abdullah was the final victim who remained missing from the incident. His body was found following a prolonged and extensive search effort.

Following the completion of necessary legal procedures, the body will be transported back to the child’s hometown in Daska.

The tragic event transpired on June 27 when 17 members of a family from Sialkot were swept away by a sudden surge in the Swat River while they were picnicking near the riverbank.

Distressing videos that circulated across social media platforms showed the family stranded on a rapidly diminishing island of land, desperately calling for assistance for nearly an hour without any immediate rescue in sight.

Meanwhile, a comprehensive 384-page inquiry report, compiled by a committee established by the provincial government to investigate the Swat flash floods deaths, was presented to the Peshawar High Court on Tuesday.

The report brought to light systemic deficiencies and administrative oversight as significant factors contributing to the disaster.

The tragedy spurred the filing of numerous writ petitions in the Peshawar High Court, holding the government and relevant departments accountable for negligence and indifference.

Peshawar High Court Chief Justice SM Atique Shah had mandated a transparent investigation, which led to the provincial government entrusting the probe to the Provincial Inspection Team.

According to sources, the report contained recorded statements from 10 government officials and responsible individuals. It featured a detailed account of government actions both before and after the incident, disciplinary actions that were implemented, flood preparedness measures, and the systemic inadequacies that played a role in the tragedy.

The report pointed out that three days after the incident, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa instructed an anti-encroachment campaign in the region. It also encompassed copies of early weather advisories that were issued in advance of the floods.

The Provincial Inspection Team had previously presented its conclusions to the chief minister, assigning responsibility to the district administration, irrigation department, local government, and rescue services.

The report emphasized a lack of coordination among departments, ambiguity in building plans and encroachment regulations, and carelessness on the part of hotel owners.

In response to these findings, the chief minister established a special committee to put into action the recommended measures and ensure that those responsible were held accountable.

In the aftermath of the incident, the deputy commissioner of Swat and three assistant commissioners were either suspended or reassigned as Officers on Special Duty (OSD). The report determined that institutional disconnections among the relevant agencies were a major factor in the high number of fatalities.