A Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government report has revealed significant failures by provincial authorities that contributed to the deaths of a dozen tourists in the Swat River tragedy last month. The Culture and Tourism Department’s inquiry found the Tourism Department completely absent from the scene, with the official tourist helpline (1422) unused, highlighting a lack of public awareness and outreach.

The incident, which occurred on June 27, saw 17 family members swept away by a sudden surge of water while picnicking along the river. Harrowing videos showed the family stranded for nearly an hour before rescue efforts began. While many tourists were rescued, the body of one child, Abdullah, was only recovered 21 days later.

According to The News, the report criticizes the Culture and Tourism Authority (CTA) for failing to license hotels in tourist hotspots and notes that the limited reach of the Tourism Police left crucial areas like Fizagat unprotected. The investigation also highlights the lack of regulation for travel agents and the absence of safety enforcement mechanisms by both the Administrative Department and the CTA, which the report says focused on event management rather than safety regulations.

The report specifically condemns a private hotel built on encroached riverbed land without the necessary permits. It states that the hotel management allowed unrestricted access to the riverbank and failed to warn guests or implement safety measures despite weather warnings. The report describes this as “gross negligence.”

The report recommends pressing charges against the hotel’s management under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) for negligence, inefficiency, and unprofessionalism. It also proposes several reforms, including a licensing regime for hotels, the deployment of Tourism Police across all Swat tourist spots, and the regulation of travel agents. Further recommendations include improved public information dissemination, tourist facilitation centers, and a comprehensive, publicly available directory of tourist sites. Hotels should also be required to obtain seasonal compliance certificates for monsoon operations to ensure guest safety and restrict riverbank access.