14 visitors tragically drowned on the Mingora Bypass on June 27 as a result of the Swat district administration’s tardy response to flood warnings, which has drawn harsh condemnation.
Irrigation Department sources claim that after a sharp and hazardous increase in water levels from Khwazakhela, the department had issued many flood advisories.
They claimed that 6,000 cusecs of water were released from Khwazakhela at 6:30 a.m. on June 27. At 8:30 am, two hours later, the flow increased to 26,000 cusecs, and by 9 am, it had sharply increased to 66,000 cusecs. The Swat district administration was formally notified by the department of a significant flood surge of 77,000 cusecs in the Swat River around 10:30 am.
