In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), rescuers are battling harsh conditions as they search through mud and debris in the aftermath of devastating flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains. The floods have claimed at least 344 lives within just 48 hours, with 324 deaths reported in K-P alone. The toll has also risen in other areas, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan, where dozens more have died.
As the search for survivors continues, nearly 2,000 rescue personnel have been mobilized to help recover bodies from the wreckage. At least 137 people have been injured, with many more left trapped under collapsed homes, swept away by floodwaters, or caught in landslides.
Six K-P districts—Buner, Bajaur, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, and Battagram—have been declared disaster-hit due to widespread destruction. Thousands of homes have been destroyed, and key infrastructure, including bridges and roads, has been washed away, hampering rescue operations.
“Heavy rainfall, landslides, and washed-out roads are severely hampering rescue efforts, particularly the transportation of heavy machinery and ambulances,” said Bilal Ahmed Faizi, a spokesman for K-P’s rescue agency. In many areas, rescue workers are forced to walk long distances to reach the sites of destruction.
The situation in Buner has been particularly harrowing, with residents reporting ongoing searches through the debris for missing family members. “People are still lying under the debris… Those who were swept away are being searched for downstream,” said Abdul Khan, a resident of Buner. Local authorities have been working tirelessly, using excavators and basic tools to clear the rubble.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned that this year’s monsoon season, which began earlier than usual, is expected to intensify in the coming weeks, increasing the risk of further flooding. Torrential rains are expected to continue, and flash floods are feared in areas already severely affected.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has confirmed that the monsoon floods have already caused over 650 deaths across Pakistan this season, with 905 injuries reported. In addition to the floods, landslides and lightning strikes have caused extensive damage, particularly in K-P, where entire communities have been displaced.
As the region braces for more heavy rainfall, provincial authorities are rushing to clear roads, restore connectivity, and provide aid to the affected communities. The K-P chief minister is expected to visit flood-stricken areas soon to assess the situation and announce further measures.
In 2022, Pakistan faced catastrophic flooding that submerged a third of the country, killing approximately 1,700 people. The ongoing floods serve as a stark reminder of the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in Pakistan, exacerbated by climate change.
