PESHAWAR: At least 12 people were killed and 14 others injured after heavy rains and flash floods swept across parts of northern Pakistan, disaster management and rescue officials said on Tuesday.
The worst-hit areas were in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where torrential rain triggered flash floods and caused widespread damage.
According to Rescue 1122, four people were swept away and killed in Landi Kotal, while two others died in Jamrud after being caught in floodwaters.
A vehicle carrying an Afghan family to the Torkham border crossing was swept away by a flash flood. Sixteen people, including women and children, were on board.
Thirteen passengers were rescued safely, while the bodies of three victims were recovered.
Rescue officials said more than 100 vehicles stranded on the Pakistan-Afghanistan Highway were moved to safer locations. Relief and rescue operations remained underway in the affected areas.
In Upper Dir district, heavy rainfall caused streams and seasonal waterways to overflow. Water levels in the Panjkora River also rose significantly.
In the Kaghan Valley, mudslides triggered by heavy rain disrupted traffic on the Kaghan Highway. Traffic on the road leading to Lake Saif-ul-Malook was also affected after floodwater eroded sections of the route.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said 14 houses were damaged by heavy rain and flash floods. One house was destroyed, while 13 others suffered partial damage.
Damage to homes was reported in Peshawar, Khyber, Mardan, Buner, Bajaur, Lower Chitral, Abbottabad, Mansehra and Kurram districts.
Flooding was also reported in Astore district of Gilgit-Baltistan after torrential rain. Homes, crops and road links were damaged.
According to the PDMA, the 12 people killed over the past 24 hours included six men, five children and one woman. Fourteen others were injured.
Also Read: Afghan Families Returning to Afghanistan Swept Away in Flash Flood in Khyber
Authorities said rescue and relief operations were continuing as emergency teams assessed the damage in the affected regions.
