As raging floodwater swept through the scenic valleys of Kaghan, Siran and Balakot in Mansehra district, washing away roads, damaging hotels and isolating hundreds of tourists recently, a group of men in blue uniforms quietly became a lifeline for desperate families.
Tourism police emerge as unsung heroes, rescuing stranded families amid flash floods in upper KP
By Fakhar-e-Alam
KAGHAN, July 23 (APP): As raging floodwater swept through the scenic valleys of Kaghan, Siran and Balakot in Mansehra district, washing away roads, damaging hotels and isolating hundreds of tourists recently, a group of men in blue uniforms quietly became a lifeline for desperate families.
Working through relentless monsoon rains, dangerous currents and damaged roads infrastructure covered by avalanches, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s tourism police led rescue and relief efforts alongside rescue 1122, district administration and local police, evacuating thousands of stranded tourists and local residents to safety after flash floods triggered by cloudbursts wreaked havoc across Upper Mansehra and parts of Swat earlier this week.
As overflowing rivers cut off routes and washed away roads, tourism police emerged as a beacon of hope for stranded families, turning moments of panic and helplessness into stories of rescue and
reassurance.
“We didn’t think about our own safety. Our only priority was to save lives,” said tourism police constable Salman Khan, recalling the frantic rescue operations in upper Kaghan Valley.
“Families, including women, children and elderly people, were stranded without food or clean drinking water. We provided them water, food packets and shifted them to safer locations despite continuous rainfall and damaged roads,” he told APP.
The climate change-induced extreme weather unleashed flash floods in the Kunhar and Siran rivers and dozens of seasonal streams, inundating villages, damaging homes, hotels and communication networks, and cutting off major tourist routes leading to the country’s most popular hill destinations.
Responding to emergency alerts, the Kaghan Development Authority (KDA) immediately deployed tourism police personnel to assist rescue agencies in evacuating stranded tourists traveling to Kaghan and Naran valleys.
For motivated Salman, the rescue operation despite limited resources carried emotional significance beyond the call of duty.
“I joined the tourism police with the dream of serving humanity. Saving tourists families from Peshawar, Nowshera and Lahore gave me immense inner peace. Seeing children reunited safely with their parents is a feeling that cannot be described in words,” he said.
His colleague, Haseeb Ali, was among dozens of constables who spent hours navigating flooded roads and dangerous terrain to reach stranded visitors in the remote mountainous Siran valley.
A similar story unfolded hundreds of kilometers away in upper Swat where constables Sultan Muhammad and Azizuddin Khan sprang into action after receiving reports that a group of tourists had become trapped near Mahudhand lake and Osho valley.
“We immediately rushed to the area despite damaged roads and interrupted heavy rain in the outskirts of Kalam,” Sultan Muhammad said. “The tourists were first evacuated to Kalam city and later shifted safely to Mingora.”
Azizuddin described the operation as one of the most challenging assignments of his
career.
“The weather conditions were extremely dangerous, but when you see frightened families finally reaching safety, every hardship becomes worthwhile.”
Officials said the tourism police have become an increasingly important force in timely emergency response across Malakand and Hazara divisions.
Tourism police’s deputy commandant, Gul Said Khan told APP that all 153 tourism police personnel were mobilized for rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit districts.
“Our personnel remained on the front line in Kaghan, Naran, Balakot, Lake Saif-UL-Malook, Kalam, Madyan and Mahodand, helping rescue stranded tourists and local residents and shifting them to safer places,” he told APP.
The force, equipped with modern motorcycles and wireless communication systems, has evolved beyond its traditional role of guiding tourists and wins hearts and minds of thousands tourists and local
population.
“Besides assisting visitors, our personnel have repeatedly responded to natural disasters, prevented robberies and dacoities, and recovered valuable belongings, including jewelery and expensive goods, returning them to their rightful owners.”
He urged tourists facing emergencies anywhere in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’ s tourist destinations to contact our helpline 1422 for immediate help.
The provincial government has recently provided 35 modern motorcycles to improve the force’s mobility in mountainous terrain, while efforts are underway to further strengthen their operational capacity.
For rescued tourists, however, the heroism of the tourism police is measured not in equipment but in compassion and national spirit.
“I was trapped near Kaghan after the Kunhar River overflowed and inundated several areas of the valley,” recalled Riaz Khan, a tourist from Nowshera.
“My family had lost hope because our car Tyre burst due to road damaged by landslides and the rain was not stopping. The brave tourism police reached us quickly, reassured us and safely evacuated us. We will never forget their courage.”
He described the force as the soft face of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that nullified negative propaganda of pessimists forces.
Riaz called for service structure, accommodation facilities and regularization of their employment besides packages in line with Motorway police.
According to the force Commandant Shah Nawaz Khan, the tourism police was established under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Act passed by KP Assembly in September 2019.
Under the law, KP Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA), was established, tourism police force raised, and the government was allowed to declare specific areas as Integrated Tourism Zones (ITZs).
ITZs at Ghanool in Mansehra, Mankiyal in Swat, Madaklasht in Chitral and Thandiyani in Abbottabad would be constructed with assistance of the World Bank.
ITZ Ghanool would be established on 59.6 acres, Mankiyal on 29.5 acres, Madaklasht on 540 Kanal and Thandyani on 640 Kanal of land respectively.
As a pilot project, Ghanool and Mankiyal would be developed first to promote sustainable tourism in Pakistan
Shah Nawaz said tourism police are currently operates under supervision of Kaghan, Galiyat, Upper Swat, Kalash and Kumrat development authorities while powers of administrative control rested with
KPCTA.
A focal person of BPS 17 or above are tasked to oversee the operation of the force within their designated region and will report to the commandant about deployment.
Shah Nawaz said the concerned authorities were responsible for accommodation, maintenance of vehicles, fuels and medical expenses while KPCTA were authorized in term of their salary expanses.
“Besides providing security to visitors, foreign tourists, tourism police’s main duty is curbing unauthorized activities, keeping updated databases of known harassers and unlicensed tour guides, first responders during incidents, management of traffic flows, delivering medical assistance and addressing tourists problems promptly,” he said.
The force remains accountable through the respective development authorities, while cases of any negligence are referred to KPCTA for disciplinary action.
Personnel are appointed on renewable three-year contracts based on performance and all major issues of the force will be taken up in upcoming board of directors meeting for solutions.
“We have warned everyone to stay away from rivers, streams and other vulnerable locations during monsoon. The rainfall comes quickly with heavy showers in Upper KP where the situation could become even more dangerous during monsoon with chances of flash floods.”
As floodwater continue to test the resilience of mountain communities during monsoon, the tourism police better known for assisting domestic and foreign tourists with directions and travel guidance have quietly earned another identity of being first responders risking their own lives so others can safely return home.
