SWAT: The death toll from a boat capsize in the Swat River rose to four after two more bodies were recovered on Sunday.

The boat overturned in Swat River’s Shahi Bagh area, a popular tourist resort in high mountains, about 14 km from Utror and 30 km from Kalam Valley.

The boat was carrying 10 tourists, including women and children. Initially, five people were rescued in injured condition and they were taken to hospitals.

Saeedur Rehman, a spokesperson for the Upper Swat Development Authority, asserted that Rescue 1122 and all relevant agencies had been immediately alerted and they took part in the rescue operation.

He said that tourists were from Mardan district. The bodies of two women had been recovered on Saturday night and search for one more body is under way, he said.

Boat was carrying 10 tourists, only five have been rescued

After the tragedy, the deputy commissioner of Swat imposed a ban on all illegal boating and boat-riding and swimming in the Swat River.

The Assistant Commissioner of Bahrain, Junaid Aftab, launched a crackdown and arrested four people involved in illegal boat-riding. Their boats were seized and placed under the government custody.

A legal action has also been initiated against the arrested people to prevent such tragic incidents in future.

The spokesperson further stated that the boat owner did not have an NOC and a case has been registered against him.

Civil society members said that illegal boating without any safety protocols for tourists has increased in the Swat River.

They said the Swat River and its tributaries are not safe for general boating and demanded strict action against those violating the government ban.

Locals in Swat have also expressed concern over the lack of interest and irresponsibility shown by the district administration over the issue.

“With the huge influx of tourists into Swat in the summer season, neither the district administration nor the relevant departments are taking any action to regulate tourism activities in the area,” they said.

The area people said that local authorities have left tourism service providers and some companies to operate on their own without taking any precautionary measures to prevent such tragedies.

“Ironically, when a tragedy occurs and its reports spread on social media, officials of the district administration start taking action,” said Amin Khan, a civil society worker in Bahrain.

Meanwhile, the district administration has urged the people to strictly follow the ban on boating in Swat River for their own safety and for the safety of others.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2025