PESHAWAR, Jul 02 (APP): The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday took serious notice of the recent tragedy in Swat where 17 tourists lost their lives due to alleged negligence by authorities.
During a hearing on the incident, Chief Justice SM Atiq Shah and Justice Faheem Wali summoned the Commissioners of Malakand, Hazara, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan and other relevant officials to appear in person.
The court expressed grave concern over the failure to rescue tourists in a timely manner when the water level in the Swat River rose suddenly.
“Seventeen lives were lost due to negligence. Why weren’t tourists rescued promptly? Why were safety jackets not provided using drones?” asked Chief Justice Shah. He further inquired about the responsibilities of managing river safety and tourist sites.
During the hearing, the Advocate General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa informed the court that an anti-encroachment operation has been initiated in Swat.
He also noted that while an air ambulance was available, it could not be utilized due to time constraints.
The Irrigation Department submitted a report stating that the river’s water level surged within a few hours and that prior alerts had been issued to relevant departments.
Chief Justice Atiq Shah criticized the lack of response to the government-issued warnings and demanded accountability.
The court directed the authorities to submit a detailed report on the incident and adjourned the hearing till Thursday.