By Fazal Khaliq
SWAT: At least five people, including four children, lost their lives in rain-related incidents across Swat district late Monday evening as torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides in various parts of the region.
According to Rescue 1122 spokesperson Shafiqa Gul, a tragic drowning occurred in the Sur Dherai area of Malam Jabba when a mother and her two sons were attempting to cross a stream. “The mother, holding her 10-month-old baby Mohsin in her lap, was trying to guide her 7-year-old son Afwan across the stream when a sudden flash flood struck. In the chaos, she lost control, and the child in her lap was swept away,” Gul said.
Rescue 1122’s water rescue team, along with local residents, launched an immediate search and rescue operation. The body of Afwan was recovered first, followed by the recovery of baby Mohsin after hours of coordinated effort. The heartbreaking incident has left the local community in deep mourning.
In a separate incident in the Gujar Band Shanko area of Madyan, a house collapsed due to heavy rainfall, claiming the lives of three children and seriously injuring a woman. The house, owned by a local resident named Hamzaullah, was flattened as heavy rains pounded the region.
Upon receiving the emergency call, Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the scene. With assistance from local volunteers, they managed to retrieve the victims from the rubble and shifted them to Civil Hospital Madyan.
Doctors confirmed that 11-year-old Madina Bibi, 8-year-old Mustafa, and 4-year-old Musa succumbed to their injuries. The injured woman, identified as the wife of Hamzaullah, is currently under critical care.
Local officials have expressed profound grief over the tragedies and extended their condolences to the bereaved families. Authorities have also issued advisories urging residents, particularly those living in mountainous or low-lying areas, to exercise extreme caution during the ongoing monsoon season.
The district administration is closely monitoring weather patterns and has mobilised emergency services to respond to any further incidents caused by the relentless rains.
