PESHAWAR – At least 146 people lost their lives and more than a dozen were injured in flash floods that struck Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Friday, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). Several individuals remain missing as rescue efforts continue under extremely challenging conditions.
The torrential monsoon rains that began in late June have triggered widespread flooding, landslides, and destruction across Pakistan — especially in KP and the northern regions. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reports that since June 26, a total of 325 people, including 142 children, have died, and over 740 have been injured nationwide due to rain-related incidents.
Buner District Hit Hardest
In Buner, one of the hardest-hit areas, 78 lives have been lost, according to Deputy Commissioner Kashif Qayum Khan. Search and rescue operations are ongoing as several people are still unaccounted for. An MI-17 rescue helicopter was deployed by the provincial government to assist in evacuation efforts. The District Police Officer confirmed that at least 54 bodies had been brought to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital.
PTI MNA Gohar Ali Khan, a native of the district, confirmed the death toll in a social media post, calling the disaster “devastating.”
Other badly affected districts include Bajaur, Battagram, and Mansehra. In Bajaur, a cloudburst in Jabrarai village (Salarzai tehsil) resulted in 18 deaths, including eight children. At least seven people remain missing.
In Battagram, 15 men died due to lightning strikes that destroyed five homes in Neel Band village, which lies near the Mansehra border. The affected area also includes Sarim and Malkal Gali villages.
Rescue Efforts Hampered
Rescue operations face numerous obstacles due to intermittent rains, difficult terrain, and damaged communication lines, particularly in remote areas. Rescue 1122 teams, with help from locals, have recovered 16 bodies in Bajaur so far, while the search for missing persons continues.
In Lower Dir, five people lost their lives and four others were injured when a roof collapsed in the Suri Pao village of Maidan area due to intense rainfall. Similarly, Swat and Shangla reported multiple casualties due to flash floods and house collapses.
PM, KP CM Respond to Crisis
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives and ordered authorities to accelerate rescue operations in Battagram and other affected districts.
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur spoke directly with officials in Hazara and Battagram, directing that rescue efforts be expedited and all necessary resources deployed to affected areas.
Widespread Damage in Northern Pakistan
The destruction was not limited to KP. In Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), a landslide in Sarli Sacha village (Muzaffarabad) buried an entire family, while two more lives were lost in Bagh and Sudhnoti. In Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), flash floods killed at least eight people in the Ghizer district, with two still missing. Villages in Khalti, Ishkoman, and Yasin bore the brunt of the floods.
In Abbottabad, continuous rain triggered flash floods that disrupted traffic and caused damage to local infrastructure.
