PESHAWAR: The tragic Swat River incident has sparked a political storm, as Governor Faisal Karim Kundi openly demands the resignation of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
After the death toll in the Swat flash floods reached 11, Kundi lashed out at the KP government for what he called a complete failure of duty. “This is not just incompetence. It is a shameful failure of responsibility,” he posted on X.
In a video message also posted on X, Kundi demanded the CM step down immediately. He said Gandapur, who also heads the tourism department, failed to protect the lives of visitors in one of the province’s most popular destinations.
The governor’s remarks come after heart-wrenching footage emerged of tourists stranded on a tiny island in the middle of the raging river. Videos showed women and children crying for help while no rescue teams or boats were visible. Onlookers watched helplessly as the river washed them away.
Kundi’s call for the CM’s resignation has intensified public anger. Many citizens, journalists, and politicians echoed his demand on social media, blaming the provincial leadership for the delayed rescue response and lack of preventive measures.
The Swat River disaster occurred Friday morning when a group of 17 tourists from Sialkot were swept away while picnicking near the riverbank in Mingora. A sudden flood, caused by upstream rains, surged through the area.
Nine bodies were recovered initially. Four others were rescued. This morning, two more bodies were found, including a child, bringing the death toll to 11.
Funeral prayers for eight victims have already been offered. Three were laid to rest in Daska Kalan, three in Lalarian, and two in Mohallah Mohammadpura.
In response to mounting criticism, the KP government has formed an inquiry committee. It has been tasked with identifying the reasons behind the tragedy and those responsible.
But Kundi’s demand for resignation has shifted focus to political accountability. He insists that the chief minister must accept moral responsibility for the administrative collapse and step down.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered a full-scale search for the remaining missing persons. The NDMA and local authorities were instructed to issue public alerts near rivers and vulnerable areas.
In the last 24 hours, floods and landslides across KP have killed 11 people, including women and children. According to the provincial disaster management agency, 56 homes were damaged, six of them completely destroyed.
The national weather service has warned of more heavy rains and possible flash floods through Tuesday.
