Civil Society Calls For Implementation Of River Swat's Tragedy Inquiry Report

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Jul, 2025) The civil society including politicians and general public here Sunday demanded swift implementation of the inquiry report of the River Swat tregedy that claimed lives of 18 tourists on a broad day light.

Misal Khan, a former Govt servant said that Swat tregedy that saddened all, has badly exposed the serious negligence of the concerned officials especially the district administration and Rescue 1122 and strict disciplinary action against them may heal wounds of the victims families.

He expressed the hope that inquiry report of Provincial Inspection Team (PIT) will not be placed in cold storage and implemented swiftly to avert such gory incidents in future.

As the shock of the Swat tragedy still ripples through the province, public attention has now turned to a critical question: Will the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government ensure accountability for the officials whose alleged negligence led to the loss of 18 innocent lives?

The tragic incident, which unfolded last month along the picturesque banks of the Swat River, saw a group of tourists washed away in a sudden surge of flood water.

Videos of the heartbreaking scene, where the victims were seen clinging to rocks and screaming for help, circulated widely, igniting outrage and grief across the country. In the aftermath, the provincial government tasked the Provincial Inspection Team (PIT) with investigating the incident.

Last Friday, the PIT presented its detailed 63-page inquiry report to Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, identifying systemic failures and individual negligence by key departments including Rescue 1122, district administration, irrigation, and local government.

The inquiry lays bare a host of institutional and operational failings. Among the most glaring were ineffective enforcement of safety advisories issued by PDMA and district officials, poor coordination among departments like police, rescue, irrigation, and tourism, malfunctioning of early warning systems, delays in Rescue 1122’s response and a shortage of trained personnel and equipment.

Similarly, negligence by hotel owners, who failed to alert guests to potential flood risks and ambiguous regulatory mechanisms and violations in riverside constructions has also contributed to the tregedy.

The PIT report doesn’t just stop at identifying these failures; it also recommends disciplinary action against specific government officers and proposes urgent reforms.

Chief Minister Gandapur has reportedly approved these recommendations, promising that legal and administrative proceedings will be completed within 60 days.

For many, however, promises are not enough and speedy action is demanded.

Hamza Khan, PML-N KP Nowshera President, said while speaking to APP, “The victims waited for hours for help that never came. Now their families await justice. Officials responsible must be punished, or such tragedies will continue.”

Zahur Khalil, former Secretary of Environment KP, echoed similar concerns, calling this a "test case" for the current government.

"Putting this inquiry report into cold storage would be a mistake. Unless real action is taken, we are bound to see more such disasters," he warned.

In response to the findings, the provincial government has announced a series of corrective measures and that CM KP has directed all relevant departments to initiate disciplinary action within 60 days.

The KP Government announced that corrective protocols and new regulatory frameworks must be issued within 30 days and comprehensive river safety and building regulation framework is being developed.

An oversight committee headed by the Chief Secretary will ensure implementation. The committee will also incorporate river safety modules into the monsoon contingency plan.

Further, a massive public awareness campaign will be launched across the province to educate communities about river safety during the monsoon season.

Following the tragedy, the government has carried out an aggressive crackdown on illegal riverside constructions and sealed

127 illegal buildings and removed encroachments over 1,019 kanals of land besides demarcated 609 km of riverbeds and 174 barriers installed to prevent future encroachment.

To bolster response capacity, the KP government has also approved 36 rescue stations at a cost of Rs. 66 million, modern rescue equipment worth Rs. 739 million,

70 compact rescue stations at a cost of Rs. 608 million and Rs. 200 million digital monitoring system.

Despite these efforts, the spotlight remains fixed on one issue ie accountability.

Will disciplinary proceedings actually lead to dismissals or demotions? Will those in charge of rescue operations and safety protocols face real consequences? Or will the cycle of negligence and disaster continue unchecked?

The next 60 days will be critical not only for the bereaved families seeking justice but also for the credibility of the KP government.

As Zahur Khalil rightly pointed out, "This isn’t just about one tragedy. It’s about setting a precedent. If those responsible are not punished, then we’ve learned nothing.”

Only time will tell if this tragedy becomes a turning point in public safety or just another item gathering dust in the archives of the government reports.

APP/fam