Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief secretary Shahab Ali Shah visited Swat to oversee the current rescue operations after the sudden tragic flood in the Swat river.
The flood, which occurred near the bypass of Mingora, led to several victims and left a lot trapped in rising waters.
During the visit, the chief secretary announced compensation of RS1.5 million per victim for the families of the deceased.
He confirmed that 58 of the 85 individuals blocked in the river had been successfully rescued, while research operations are still underway to find others. So far, 11 bodies have been recovered.
Read: 19 swept as the Swat river increases dangerously after heavy rains
Shahab Ali Shah also said that several officials had been suspended for negligence, including the district officer of Rescue 1122.
He stressed that an investigation committee would investigate the incident and hold responsible for failure in response.
The chief secretary explained that the unfavorable weather conditions and time constraints had prevented the timely arrival of helicopters during the early stages of the rescue effort.
However, he confirmed that the government made decisive measures, including a ban on all forms of excavation in the Swat river and a repression of illegal encroachments.
To prevent future tragedies, Shahab Ali Shah announced that complete SOPs (standard operational procedures) had been issued for tourists visiting the region.
He expressed his condolences on behalf of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government, reaffirming his commitment to support bereaved families during this difficult period.
