Negligence of local administration led to the Swat River incident last month, claims the investigation report. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has ordered actions against officials of several government departments over their negligence, which led to the drowning of over a dozen people in a flooded Swat River last month.
On June 27, at least 14 people, including 10 from the same family, died after being swept away in a flash flood triggered by heavy rains in the Sawat River. The video of the incident went viral on social media, triggering intense reactions from the netizens.
Regarding the inaction and inability to save the stuck tourists, the committee formed by the CM Gandapur to fix responsibility for negligence and shortcomings on the part of the District Administration, Irrigation and Local Department, and Rescue 1122, which resulted in the tragedy.
The relevant departments will initiate action against officers for irresponsible and incomplete disciplinary proceedings within 60 days, read an official statement issued by the CM Secretariat. The 63-page report submitted by the Provincial Inspection Team said weather advisories issued by the Provincial Disaster Management and District Administrations were not effectively implemented.
It also highlighted a lack of coordination among the Police, Irrigation, Revenue, Rescue, Tourism, Police and other departments. The malfunctioning quarterly warning system resulted in delayed communication about the flood. Moreover, hotel owners failed to alert tourists about the dangers in riverine areas.
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The emergency response by Rescue 112 after receiving information of the accident was delayed, while the organization was also short on trained personnel and necessary rescue equipment. There was no clear designation of responsibilities among departments and institutions for riverside safety, and no risk clarification existed for tourist spots along rivers, it read. The report also stated that at the district level, there were no organized SOPs to ensure public safety during the monsoon season.
The enforcement of Section 144, which would have stopped the victims from going to the river, was not imposed. The report also pointed out construction along the river in violation of the rules as well. It said that the regulatory mechanism for approving building plans and defining encroachments was ambiguous and inconsistent.