Pakistan's Swat River flash flood death toll rises to 12 as another child’s body recovered

The body of another child who was swept away by floodwaters in Swat River in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has been recovered from Charsadda, rescue officials said on Sunday, bringing the death toll from Friday’s incident to 12.

According to Rescue 1122, the child’s body was found downstream in Charsadda district, nearly 100 kilometers from where the group of people was carried away in a powerful flash flood along the Swat Bypass area.

A search operation is still underway to locate one last missing child. So far, at least eight of the 12 victims confirmed dead in the incident were children. Authorities say the search team includes more than 120 personnel, equipped with boats, divers, and surveillance drones.

The Swat drowning incident occurred amid a broader crisis triggered by torrential monsoon rains across Pakistan. At least 31 people have died in weather-related incidents over the past three days, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province suffering the heaviest losses.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported 19 deaths in KP alone, with flash floods and landslides damaging 56 homes across seven districts. Eight of those killed in the province were children, officials said.

'Sheer negligence'

Waqar Ahmed Swati, a local journalist, blamed the administration for the tragic drownings, calling it a case of "sheer negligence."

"These incidents are the result of administrative failure. Despite flood alerts being issued, no preventive measures were visible on the ground," he said.

"Where were the police, Rescue 1122, and other officials when tourists were venturing into the river?" Swati questioned.

Twelve additional deaths were reported in Punjab province due to roof collapses and electrocutions as the powerful weather system brought heavy rainfall to parts of the country, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Sialkot.

The National Disaster Management Authority and meteorologists have warned that the current monsoon spell, intensified by climate change and glacial melt, is expected to continue until July 1, with a high risk of further flooding in mountainous regions.

In response to mounting public criticism over disaster preparedness, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Saturday removed the deputy commissioner of Swat district from his post. Officials have not yet named his replacement, but said the decision was made “to ensure accountability and improve emergency response.”

Meanwhile, the government has announced financial compensation for the families of victims. KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur directed that PKR 1 million be given to the families of the deceased and PKR 200,000 to those injured in the flooding.

Rescue operations have been complicated by the province’s geography. Swat and surrounding districts are known for their steep valleys and fast-flowing rivers — features that have made the region especially vulnerable to flash floods as climate change accelerates glacial melting and alters rainfall patterns.