PESHAWAR: Severe cloudbursts, landslides, and flash floods have wreaked havoc across multiple districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir, leaving widespread destruction in their wake.
Various incidents have so far claimed around 200 lives, with many others injured. In Buner alone, more than 120 people have died, and several remain missing.
Following a cloudburst, the ensuing floods swept away entire villages, destroyed homes, and carried off livestock and vehicles. An emergency has been declared in Buner.
In Swat, the raging river swept away everything in its path, while the stream passing through Mingora overflowed into homes, and floodwaters reached connecting bridges.
In Bajaur, a cloudburst triggered floods and landslides, killing 21 people. In Dheri Haleem village of Mansehra, the bodies of 16 individuals swept away by floods were recovered in Battagram.
Buner, Bajaur, Mansehra, and Battagram have been declared disaster-stricken areas.
Rescue authorities reported that in Jabrai, Salarzai tehsil of Bajaur, flash floods destroyed numerous houses, washed away connecting roads and bridges, and cut off access to the area.
Tragedy struck when a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government helicopter carrying relief supplies to flood-affected areas in Bajaur crashed, killing all five on board, including two pilots.
The provincial government has declared a day of mourning across the province. Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur stated that the helicopter lost contact in Mohmand’s airspace due to bad weather.
Another provincial government helicopter continues rescue operations in Buner.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, flash floods have devastated various valleys.
In the Ooshar stream of Chilas, several people were swept away, with some clinging to tree trunks for survival.
Heavy rains destroyed crops, homes, orchards, connecting bridges, and water channels.
In Astore, floods washed away ready-to-harvest crops, shops, trees, and motorcycles, while the closure of the Karakoram Highway cut off land access between Gilgit and Rawalpindi.
In Skardu, torrential rains blocked several connecting roads, the water channel of Sadpara Dam was washed away, and powerhouses were shut down.
In Azad Kashmir’s Neelum Valley, flash floods swept away six bridges over the river, killing 11 people in various incidents.
In Muzaffarabad, a cloudburst claimed the lives of eight people, including six members of the same family.
The road leading to Ratti Gali was washed away in several places, but 800 tourists stranded at the base camp were rescued.
Landslides have closed Kohala Road and Neelum Highway, cutting off Kashmir from Rawalpindi, while the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad section and the Leepa-Muzaffarabad road are also blocked due to landslides.
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The Azad Kashmir government has ordered the closure of educational institutions for two days due to the continuous heavy rains.
