THIS is with reference to the report `The `perfect storm` behind River Swat tragedy` (July 14), which narrated in detail the findings of the three-man inquiry committee that had been set up in the wake of the unfortunate incident in which a number of lives were lost. As is evident now, the tragedy was not as much a result of nature`s fury as it was a product of systemic failure, official indifference, and the generaltendency to avoid learning lessons from past mistakes.

This was surely not an isolated failure.

Just days before the Swat disaster, on June 22, a boat carrying families had capsized in Kalam`s Shahi Bagh Lake, resulting in the loss of four lives that could, and should, have been saved, especially because the incidenthad taken place close to the Rescue 1122 headquarters.

These incidents follow a grim pattern. In August 2022, catastrophic floods in Swat had swept away hotels, and more than a thousand tourists had been left stranded there until helicopter evacuations began.

Backthen,the state atleastpretended to act. In 2025, it did not even bother.

Local hoteliers and tour operators lure tourists to unfenced riverbanks with no regard at all for their safety. The district administration refuses to enforce its ownbans. The relevant disaster management authorities do hardly anything beyond issuing alerts. This is not just a case of negligence; it is a moral crime. The latest tragedy in Swat should be a turning point.

Instead of becoming another chapter in Pakistan`s long history of avoidable disasters, it must become the catalyst for a system that finally values human life.

Ali Gul Leghari Johi