· Pakistan’s ongoing floods have resulted in over 150 missing persons and at least 700 fatalities, highlighting the urgent need for effective rescue measures
· Many drowning victims remain submerged for hours, emphasizing the importance of quick, informed rescue techniques
· Water safety expert Qamar-uz-Zaman advocates for widespread training in self-defence and rescue methods, including spinning victims to revive them
· Traditional revival practices, such as spinning drowning individuals on a potter’s wheel, have reportedly saved lives and should be more widely known
· The government and rescue agencies are urged to promote civil defence training to empower citizens to act swiftly during water emergencies, potentially saving countless lives
Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad
As relentless flash floods continue to ravage northwest Pakistan, leaving over 150 people missing and claiming at least 700 lives, the nation faces a dire challenge: saving those caught in the deadly embrace of rushing waters. Many victims have fallen prey to drowning, highlighting an urgent need to overhaul rescue mechanisms and empower individuals with life-saving skills.
In July, tragedy struck the scenic Swat Valley when 17 tourists exploring the river were trapped and swept away by the merciless currents, their fate a stark reminder of nature’s fury. Across the country, countless others have drowned amid the chaos, with rescue operations led by military and civilian teams racing against time to save lives.
Amid this crisis, seasoned observer Qamar-uz-Zaman Shah, 86, a native of Mirpur Azad Kashmir now residing in Islamabad, underscores a vital yet often overlooked solution: self-defense and water safety training for all. “Every individual must learn how to swim and stay vigilant,” he emphasizes.
“I have witnessed many incidents where drowned victims remained submerged for hours. When we were able to grasp their legs and carefully pull them out, then swiftly rotate and spin them in a rapid circle eight to ten times, many of them miraculously regained consciousness. It’s about quick thinking and knowing what to do in those critical moments.”
The Sindh River meanders through the land near Tando Jan Mohammad, a historic site where Mahmood Ghaznavi once paused, as Zaman recounts. He recalls a remarkable story: a man who drowned in the river and remained submerged for six hours, yet was believed to have been revived through an extraordinary ritual.
According to Zaman, a Hindu Banya, with his potter’s wheel beside him, suddenly placed the drowned man onto the spinning wheel and began to revolve it swiftly. Miraculously, within minutes, the man opened his eyes and regained consciousness.
Zaman shares that he witnessed this practice firsthand during his childhood. He recalls - Akku, a young boy drowning in the river, and how, years later, on the riverbank, he and others encountered tourists who had been swept away by the currents. In a desperate attempt to save them, they held two individuals and spun them rapidly, which resulted in both regaining their breath.
Zaman emphasizes that such knowledge should be disseminated widely, among the public, rescue teams, and authorities alike, to raise awareness of this potentially life-saving technique.
He recounts another incident from his youth: when he was just 12, he saw Ghulam Muhammad, an eight-year-old boy, drown. Without hesitation, he and others pulled him from the water, turned him backward, and spun him swiftly. The child regained consciousness as water was expelled from his lungs, illustrating the effectiveness of this simple yet powerful method.
Qamar-uz-Zaman advocates for widespread awareness of this practice across Pakistan, emphasizing that it could serve as a crucial emergency response, an exercise that might save precious minutes in critical moments. He urges rescue authorities, such as Rescue 1122, Civil Defence and Local Administration, to educate the public about this technique, recognizing that official reach may not always be immediate.
His words serve as a clarion call for comprehensive civil defense training, empowering ordinary citizens with the skills to act swiftly and effectively during water emergencies.
What may appear to be calm water from a distance can quickly turn into a deadly current. Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration official, Dr. Tabassum emphasized that, under no circumstances, should anyone attempt to wade through, cross, or even get close to riverbanks - especially during or after heavy rainfall.
“Floodwaters are unpredictable. Even a few inches of fast-flowing water can sweep away a person or vehicle,” the spokesperson from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) stated in a press briefing. “We are urging people to avoid unnecessary travel near rivers, canals, and low-lying areas.”
Nature's Wrath in Full Force
This year's monsoon rains have already pushed several rivers beyond their danger marks. Villages nestled near riverbanks are on high alert, and rescue teams are working around the clock to assist with evacuations, set up temporary shelters, and deliver supplies.
Social media is flooded with videos showing once-tranquil streams turning into torrents of muddy rage. Bridges have been damaged, roads washed away, and entire crops submerged in floodwater. Yet, despite the warnings, some continue to approach these dangerous zones - often out of curiosity, concern for livestock, or to capture footage.
In a country frequently affected by natural calamities, such preparedness can be the difference between life and death. As Pakistan faces the ongoing devastation wrought by floods, the message is clear: equipping individuals with rescue techniques and fostering a vigilant culture are vital steps toward reducing fatalities. Though the waters remain unpredictable, with the right knowledge and prompt action, lives can be saved from the depths.
The writer is an Islamabad-based journalist who covers a wide spectrum of stories, with a special focus on climate change, human rights, education, sports, culture, and tourism. He can be reached at mahtabbashir@gmail.com
