PESHAWAR: Rescue officials have confirmed that the death toll surpasses 250, with dozens more injured, as cloudbursts and heavy rains triggered flash floods and landslides in Khyber Pakhtunwa and northern part of the country.
According to reports, more than 200 deaths have been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, 12 in Gilgit Baltistan and 19 in Azad Jammu and Kashri (AJK). The rescue officials told local media that the toll expected to rise as the situation remains unstable in these areas especially in Khyber Pakhtunwa.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) claimed that 116 houses have been damaged, 34 partially and 14 fully in KP, 14 partially and three fully in GB, and 23 partially and 28 fully in AJK.
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 Buner alone, more than 200 people have died, and several remain missing.
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.
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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.
The Azad Kashmir government has ordered the closure of educational institutions for two days due to the continuous heavy rains.
