PESHAWAR: Torrential rains, cloudbursts, and flash floods have wreaked devastation across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), claiming at least 189 lives, injuring dozens, and leaving many missing.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s districts of Battagram, Bajaur, and Mansehra, cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides have claimed 189 lives and injured 21 people, while many remain missing.
According to the PDMA, the dead include 163 men, 12 children, and 14 women, while the injured comprise 12 men, two women, and one child. Heavy rains and flash floods damaged 45 houses — seven completely and 38 partially — along with three schools.
The PDMA said incidents occurred in Bajaur, Battagram, Torghar, Mansehra, Swat, Buner, and Shangla, with Bajaur and Battagram suffering the worst damage, where rescue operations are still underway.
PDMA had earlier issued weather alerts to all district administrations, directing precautionary measures. Given the current situation, it has ordered relief work to be accelerated and immediate assistance provided to the affected population. Authorities have also been instructed to use all available resources to reopen blocked tourist routes and restore disconnected roads.
Emergency declared in Buner
Buner Deputy Commissioner Kashif Qayyum said floods in Gokand, Gadezai, and Pir Baba caused massive destruction, killing 120 people. Forty bodies are at THQ Pir Baba, while 12 are at DHQ Daggar. A district-wide emergency has been declared.
Bajaur
The worst-hit areas were Salarzai and Jabarai in Bajaur district, where cloudbursts and lightning strikes killed at least 21 people and injured many others. Entire houses were washed away, multiple villages submerged, and seven people remain missing. Rescue 1122 teams, along with locals, are engaged in relief operations.
Battagram
In the border village of Neil Band between Battagram and Mansehra, a cloudburst around 3am Thursday swept away 3 to 4 homes. Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Saleem Khan reported that the death toll has risen to 18. Rescue workers, revenue staff, and volunteers from Alkhidmat Foundation are participating in search efforts.
Local resident Noor Qadeem Shah said villagers recovered nine bodies from nearby areas, while about 20 people are still missing. Floodwaters swept away small wooden footbridges and livestock, and damaged connecting roads and small hydropower turbines.
So far, 10 bodies have been recovered from the Shimlai Mandrowali area. Search operations continue with the help of Rescue 1122 teams, police, and local volunteers.
Mansehra
In Basyan, Mansehra, a flash flood swept away a car carrying six people; three were killed, while three survived. Several houses were destroyed, and livestock losses are being assessed.
Lower Dir
In Maidan Suri Pao, Lower Dir, a house roof collapsed during heavy rains, trapping multiple people under debris. Despite difficult terrain and flooding, rescue teams trekked for three hours to reach the site. Seven people were pulled from the rubble—five dead and two injured.
Gilgit-Baltistan
In GB, floods claimed 10 lives—eight in Ghizer district and two siblings in Diamer. Roads were blocked and power supply disrupted, though some routes have been restored.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir
In AJK, eight people died and two were injured due to heavy rains and landslides. Multiple bridges, roads, and houses were destroyed. In Neelum Valley, a cloudburst swept away several bridges and guesthouses, stranding hundreds of tourists, many of whom have since been rescued.
Swat
In Swat, heavy rain caused rivers and streams to overflow, flooding homes and submerging roads. In Islam Pura Road Shagai, several vehicles were trapped in floodwaters. In Shigar, glacier melt triggered flooding that damaged multiple villages.
At least 10 people, including a youth, died and 13 were injured. District authorities reported rescuing 900 children trapped in schools and evacuating women stranded in homes to safer locations.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in rain-related incidents in the province.
Relief efforts
The Pakistan Army, Rescue 1122, and district administrations are conducting rescue and relief operations in the affected areas. Helicopters are being used to evacuate stranded individuals to safe locations and deliver food and medicine.
The Meteorological Department has forecast that the current spell of rains will continue intermittently until August 21.
