After 21 days of the Swat tragedy, the body of Abdullah, a 14-year-old resident of Sialkot, was recovered on Thursday, who was among 17 people swept away by the strong current of the Swat River.

The death toll of the tragic incident has now risen to 13.

According to a Rescue 1122 spokesperson, Abdullah had drowned at the Fizagat point in Swat on June 27, and his body was found 21 days later near the Ghalegay area during a continued search operation.

The body has been shifted to the hospital for necessary medico-legal procedures. Rescue officials confirmed that efforts to locate the teenager had been ongoing since the day of the incident.

The tragedy occurred on June 27, when 17 people were swept away by the strong current of the Swat River. Four were rescued alive, while 12 bodies were recovered in the days that followed. Abdullah’s body was the last to be found.

Among the victims, 10 were from Sialkot, 6 from Mardan, and 1 from Swat.

Grief-stricken family members alleged that rescue teams arrived an hour and a half late, during which time their loved ones remained stranded on a sandbank. Rescue services have come under criticism from victims’ families for delayed response and insufficient equipment during the early hours of the disaster.