DLP Report
PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Department has launched an awareness campaign to educate tourists about the dangers of entering rivers and streams during the monsoon season in an effort to prevent drowning incidents and loss of life.
The campaign was launched at the Harno River in Abbottabad under the supervision of Culture and Tourism Officer Saima Imran, with Tourism Police and Rescue 1122 personnel participating in the awareness drive.
During the campaign, officials advised tourists to avoid entering fast-flowing water and distributed informational material highlighting the risks posed by swollen rivers and streams. Tourism Police and Rescue 1122 personnel also assisted children and women out of the river and shifted them to safer locations.
Speaking to the media, Ms Imran said the campaign had been launched on the directives of the chief minister’s adviser on tourism, Malik Adeel, Secretary Tourism Saadat Hassan and Director General Tourism Shahid Khan following recent drowning incidents in tourist destinations, including Swat, Naran and areas along the Kunhar River.
She said heavy rainfall during the monsoon season was expected to increase water levels in rivers and canals, making them particularly hazardous for visitors.
Ms Imran urged tourists to refrain from entering rivers for photography, selfies or making social media videos, noting that several fatal incidents had occurred in recent years under similar circumstances.
She also pointed out that the Tourism Department, Tourism Police and Rescue 1122 personnel were not present at every tourist site, making it essential for visitors to exercise caution and follow safety guidelines to avoid accidents.
During the awareness campaign, officials interacted with tourists at the riverbank and advised them to remain at safe distances from fast-flowing water.
