Swat Principal Evacuates 900 Students Before Flood Disaster

A heroic act by a school principal in Swat saved nearly 900 students from certain tragedy when flash floods struck the region on Friday morning.

At around 9 a.m., Principal Saeed Ahmad noticed a nearby stream rising at an alarming pace. Drawing from his past experience of the 1995 floods, which had severely damaged the same school, Ahmad immediately ordered an evacuation.

Within minutes, teachers and staff successfully moved the students to higher ground. Barely 15 minutes later, floodwaters ripped through the area, destroying almost half of the school building, including classrooms, the playground, and its boundary walls.

Despite the large-scale destruction, no casualties were reported, thanks to the timely intervention.

Officials confirmed that the school had nearly 950 enrolled students, of which around 900 were present on campus at the time of the incident. “Had the evacuation been delayed, the outcome would have been catastrophic,” said a local education officer.

This near-tragedy comes as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa faces one of its deadliest monsoon seasons in recent memory. Meteorological data shows 50–60% higher rainfall compared to last year, with more heavy downpours expected in the coming weeks. In just the past three days, floods across the province have already claimed over 350 lives.

Principal Ahmad, who has served the school for over 12 years, has been hailed as a hero by parents and community members. His decisive leadership ensured that hundreds of young lives were saved in what could have been one of Swat’s darkest school tragedies.

Authorities have urged schools in flood-prone areas to prepare emergency response plans as weather warnings continue.

Learn more by clicking here.