At least 17 people have drowned in the Panjshir River over the past year, most of them domestic tourists visiting the province, according to Taliban officials.
Haqmal Saeed, spokesman for the Taliban police command in Panjshir, said the majority of the victims died while swimming or playing in the river at various locations across the province.
He urged visitors to avoid entering sections of the river where water levels are high and currents are strong.
The Panjshir River, which runs through one of Afghanistan’s most popular summer destinations, has long been associated with fatal drowning incidents, particularly during the warmer months when large numbers of visitors travel to the province to escape the heat.
In the most recent case, a 10-year-old child disappeared after falling into the river on May 18, according to local officials. A week earlier, an 18-year-old man drowned while swimming in the river.
Fatal accidents in the Panjshir River occur almost every year, often involving children and young people.
As temperatures rise during the summer, melting snow from the Hindu Kush mountains increases water levels and strengthens currents, creating hazardous conditions for swimmers and visitors unfamiliar with the river.
Taliban have repeatedly warned residents and tourists to exercise caution near the river, but drowning incidents continue to claim lives each year.
