PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has called for detailed reports on the availability of helicopters and safety measures for tourists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the tragic drowning incident in the Swat River.
A two-member bench, led by Chief Justice SM Atiq Shah, presided over the proceedings, examining the lapses that led to the loss of lives.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Shah questioned the absence of the Commissioner of Malakand Division and inquired about the progress of the ongoing investigation. He expressed concerns about the lack of updates on the investigation and ordered the immediate presence of the Chairman of the Inquiry Committee in court.
The Chairman confirmed that the committee had visited Swat after the incident and is in the process of compiling a detailed report, expected to be submitted within seven days.
The inquiry committee revealed that preliminary findings had identified several departmental lapses. The final report is anticipated to shed more light on these issues, and all findings will be fully disclosed once the committee completes its investigation.
In response to the inquiry, Chief Justice Shah directed both the Commissioner and the Regional Police Officer (RPO) of Malakand to submit formal written reports regarding the incident.
The court also ordered that a comprehensive report on the safety measures in place for tourists be provided. The petitioner’s lawyer highlighted that both helicopters were available during the incident, and the aviation report confirmed that flight operations could have been conducted for a rescue operation.
The court has thus requested a detailed explanation regarding helicopter availability and tourist safety arrangements to ensure accountability and prevent future incidents.
Meanwhile, the ongoing search operation by Rescue 1122 entered its seventh consecutive day, with the teams still searching for Abdullah, a tourist from Daska who remains missing. As of Thursday, rescue teams have recovered 12 bodies from the Swat River, but Abdullah has yet to be found.
More than 30 rescue personnel, including divers, are working tirelessly to locate Abdullah, focusing their efforts on deep waters and combating strong river currents. The search spans from Fizagat to Landakay, with teams conducting operations at multiple locations along the river.
Rescue officials have stated that despite the challenging conditions, the search will continue until Abdullah is found. The operation has been described as meticulous and demanding, with efforts being made to cover all possible areas.
