At least 18 people drowned on Friday when a boat carrying wedding guests capsized in the Swat River in northern Pakistan, according to local authorities.
The accident occurred when the vessel, which was transporting around 30 people from Punjab province, struck debris from a dam that had been deliberately destroyed earlier in the day by the military to prevent flooding in urban areas.
Local police confirmed the death toll in a statement, saying 18 people were rescued by divers while search operations are still underway to locate the remaining passengers. “Efforts are continuing to find those still missing,” the statement added.
In a separate announcement, the Pakistan Army reported that one of its officers lost his life during the rescue operation. The officer had joined emergency personnel in efforts to save survivors from the fast-moving waters.
The ill-fated boat was part of a wedding procession traveling through the scenic Swat Valley, a region known both for its beauty and vulnerability to flooding. Witnesses say the boat overturned near the remnants of a recently demolished dam, which authorities had intentionally destroyed to redirect rising floodwaters away from towns and cities in central Pakistan.
Earlier on Friday, military engineering teams carried out controlled demolitions of several small dams across the region as a preventive measure amid forecasts of heavy monsoon rainfall. The annual rainy season frequently causes severe flooding across Pakistan, claiming hundreds of lives and displacing thousands.
The latest incident underscores the high risk communities face during the monsoon months, especially when infrastructure adjustments — even those aimed at protection — interact unpredictably with civilian activities.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid traveling by river during the ongoing flood response operations. Rescue teams, including army divers and local emergency services, remain on site.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed condolences to the victims’ families and ordered an immediate inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the accident. The government has pledged compensation for the bereaved and full support for ongoing rescue and recovery efforts.
