At least five tourists lost their lives after a boat capsized in Saifullah Lake in the Kalam area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Swat district on Wednesday, according to police. Rescue teams, including police and local volunteers, continued searching for the remaining missing passengers.
Incident Details
Police initially reported that the boat was carrying seven people, including the boatman. However, officials later clarified that eight members of the same family were on board when the accident occurred. Swat District Police Officer Mohammad Omar Khan confirmed that five bodies had been recovered from the Mahodand area. He added that rescue operations were ongoing to locate the remaining missing persons.
The boatman was rescued with serious injuries and taken to a hospital for treatment, according to police sources.
Official Reactions
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed grief over the incident, describing the boat accident as "deeply tragic and heartbreaking." He extended condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the departed souls. Kundi urged the relevant authorities to make the rescue operation more effective and to continue the search without interruption until all missing persons were located. He also called for strict enforcement of safety measures and boating regulations at tourist destinations.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi took notice of the incident and sought an immediate report from the relevant administration. He directed that action be taken against those responsible if negligence or lapses were established. The chief minister stated that the provincial government stood with the affected families during this difficult time. He also directed rescue authorities to continue search and relief operations with full responsibility and urgency to recover a missing girl.
