"The Last Selfie by the River"



A picnic that was a nightmare

On june 27, 2025, a own family of seventeen from sialkot arrived by way of the swat river for a happy morning picnic. Children performed, mother and father chatted, and cameras clicked. In no time, they switched from selfie sessions to scrambling for survival.

Calm waters, hidden threat

To onlookers, the river seemed secure—shallow, sluggish, and ideal for pics. However the reality changed into some distance darker. Heavy rains upstream had swelled tributaries and raised the swat river’s waft from 6,seven hundred to over seventy seven,000 cusecs within hours

The scary surge

At around 9:36 am, the water surged all at once. Households have been stuck mid-selfie. The current ripped thru kids first, then their parents who jumped in to store them. Within seconds, seventeen human beings have been suffering in opposition to nature’s fury

Father and children, trapped in horror

Amongst them changed into a father clutching his kids, every seeing the alternative swallowed by way of chaos. The children watched helplessly as their father fought to live afloat—however the water become relentless. It wasn’t just a flood—it changed into a family torn aside in undeniable sight.

Name for help misplaced in time

Their determined cries echoed off rocks. Eyewitnesses say they cried out for over an hour, however no powerful assist got here . Rescue 1122 received the initial call at 9:forty nine am, but teams with no rapid‑water gear arrived only with the aid of 10:07 am, then lower back to fetch equipment .

While bystanders selected cameras over compassion

Surprising videos surfaced showing vacationers and locals filming—or worse, taking selfies—as opposed to speeding to assist. One neighborhood stated, “they stored asking to be rescued, but rescuers said they'd no assets. Separately, the water swept them away” .

Rescue arrives—too past due for lots

By means of mid‑morning, over 80 employees from rescue 1122, the military, volunteers, and even drones and makeshift rafts (regionally called jaalai) had been on web site . Nevertheless, they confronted the swollen swat’s rocky, excessive‑modern-day terrain—now not perfect for boats or divers .

Simplest 3 lives stored

Miraculously, most effective 3 survivors have been rescued—clinging to rocks while rescuers reached them. The relaxation, consisting of the daddy and lots of kids, had been misplaced to the flood’s unrelenting pull .

Bodies, missing, and ongoing seek

By day’s stop, 12 our bodies had been recovered; one infant remained lacking even in downstream districts . Across the area, the demise toll from flash floods considering that june 26 rose beyond 32, with sixteen youngsters the various fatalities .

Helicopters that in no way came

Critics puzzled: why wasn’t a helicopter used? Officials—like kp’s cm spokesman—replied that the cm’s chopper turned into too massive; rotor downdraft may want to knock sufferers off the rocks, and weather worsened the timing .

Yet the previous weather minister sherry rehman argued differently: “the pdma ought to have mobilised a helicopter to the marooned circle of relatives in time. It's outrageous negligence” .

Caution bells overlooked

In fact, the irrigation branch had warned authorities by using 8:41 am of the growing river, or even imposed section 144—banning public get right of entry to to riverbeds . Still, resort owners mounted charpoys and chairs inside the river. The organization walked in obliviously, believing the warnings have been for display .

Breaking point: failure not destiny

This wasn’t simply nature’s fault—it was governmental failure. Rescue teams lacked equipment, helicopters had been unavailable, and early‑warning systems remained idle . In preference to safety, there has been forget about.

Accountability at closing

Public outrage led khyber pakhtunkhwa to suspend six senior officers, along with the dc of swat and rescue 1122’s neighborhood head . An inquiry turned into launched, and repayment of ₹1.Five million (pkr) in step with sufferer promised .

Community response & reforms

The government banned mining and illegal structures within two hundred ft of the river . They’re deploying drones able to sporting a hundred and fifty kg and installing telemetry structures for actual-time alerts .

A stark lesson in humanity

This tragedy reminds us: in crisis, human life need to be our precedence—no longer films. Every 2nd wasted filming could value a life. Supporting, calling for aid, guiding victims—those are actions of electricity and compassion.

A tale of loss and resolve

Picture the scene: a contented father shielding his youngsters, each seeing the other slip under raging water. At the back of them, strangers snapping photos, no longer supplying hands. Downstream, rescuers arrive too late. Seventeen souls vanish in mins; simplest 3 go back.

But from this crucible emerges desire—thru duty, reform, and a nationwide vow: next time, humanity will outweigh helplessness.

This tale isn’t simply dramatic—it’s a name to movement: be alert, help without delay, admire warnings, and call for that authorities put together for disasters—now not forget about them. Due to the fact while floodwaters upward thrust, our braveness and compassanate.