Swat Tragedy: Body of 9-Year-Old Girl Found in Bajaur

Anfaal is gone, but her silent departure echoes as a piercing question to our system, institutions, and flawed planning: Are we prepared to prevent the next Anfaal?

A family from Sialkot, who had arrived in Swat last week to enjoy the scenic beauty of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was struck by an unimaginable tragedy when a sudden flash flood turned their joyous moments into devastation. Within moments, the area was engulfed by water, chaos, screams, and scenes of death.

In this heartbreaking incident, 18 members of the same family — including children, women, and men — were swept away by the flood. Rescue officials and local volunteers managed to save five lives, while the bodies of 11 victims have been recovered. Several others remain missing.

A haunting dimension of this tragedy emerged when the body of nine-year-old Anfaal was discovered in the river in Barang tehsil of Bajaur. 

Anfaal, an innocent girl from the same family, had come to Swat with dreams of a joyful vacation, only to be claimed by the ferocious current of the river. Her lifeless body was found by locals in the Panjkora River.

Upon the discovery, locals immediately alerted Rescue 1122 Bajaur. A medical team arrived at the site and transported the body to RHC Barang for legal formalities. The body was then sent to Malakand via ambulance to be handed over to the grieving family.

Also Read: The Tragedy of Karbala: A Lesson in Sacrifice

District Emergency Officer Amjad Khan told TNN that they received a report of a child’s body found along the riverbank. “Our team responded promptly and transported the body to Malakand, where it was identified as Anfaal — one of the missing children from the Swat incident,” he said. “It was a deeply sorrowful moment for our entire team.”

Barang Tehsildar Anwar Hussain also confirmed to TNN that his office immediately contacted Swat administration once the body was identified. After completing the legal procedures, the body was handed over to the affected family.

He further explained that the Swat River and Panjkora River converge at Sharbaty in Bajaur, and the body likely reached Bajaur due to the strong current.

This is not just the tragedy of a single family, it serves as a stark warning for society at large. Without effective disaster preparedness and response mechanisms, such heartbreaks could become routine.

Anfaal is gone, but her silent departure echoes as a piercing question to our system, institutions, and flawed planning: Are we prepared to prevent the next Anfaal?