Flash Floods Devastate Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan; 18 Dead, Dozens Missing

Widespread destruction triggers travel advisories and weather warnings

PESHAWAR:
Heavy monsoon rains and powerful flash floods have claimed at least 18 lives and left multiple people missing across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) over the past 48 hours, as rescue operations continue and authorities brace for more adverse weather.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported on Wednesday that 13 deaths occurred in K-P alone, with most victims being children and women. A total of nine children, three women, and one man lost their lives, while three others, including two children, were injured.

Preliminary damage assessments by PDMA show 19 homes affected, including two completely destroyed and 17 partially damaged across districts such as Swat, Buner, Bajaur, Torghar, Upper Kohistan, Mardan, Mansehra, and Malakand.

Swat was the worst-hit district, where flash floods and a house collapse killed six children and one woman, while another child and a woman were injured. Buner reported three deaths, including a mother and child who were struck by lightning and an 8-year-old boy swept away by floodwaters.

In Bajaur, two brothers aged 21 and 5 drowned, though their mother was rescued. Other casualties included a woman in Upper Kohistan and an injured child in Torghar following a roof collapse.

Gilgit-Baltistan: Tourism Halted Amid Emergency

The situation in Gilgit-Baltistan remains critical, particularly in the Babusar area, where 10 to 15 people are feared missing after flash floods. In response, the G-B government has urged tourists to defer travel plans.

Faizullah Faraq, G-B government spokesperson, confirmed widespread infrastructure damage. Stranded tourists on the Babusar route were rescued and are being accommodated in local hotels with support from the administration. Roads to Naran and Kaghan remain blocked, while the Karakoram Highway is cut off at two locations. The Silk Route remains open for small vehicles, with restoration efforts ongoing up to Bisham.

Faraq urged the public to avoid visiting the region until conditions stabilize. The G-B chief minister is expected to tour the worst-affected areas to assess the damage and oversee relief measures.

Further Rain Predicted: Warnings Issued Nationwide

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast more intense rainfall across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan in the coming days, raising fears of urban flooding, flash floods, and landslides.

The director general of the meteorological department called the Babusar fatalities tragic and cautioned that worsening weather could lead to more destruction. An emergency was declared in Diamer, where five people have died due to flooding. Rescue operations are still underway in Babusar, where several tourists were swept away.

PMD’s national advisory warns of heavy to very heavy rainfalls potentially causing dangerous flooding in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, and various districts in Punjab and Kashmir. Urban flooding is expected in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, and Peshawar.

Strong winds and lightning could also cause damage to weaker structures, including makeshift homes, signboards, electric poles, and solar panels.

Forecast Snapshot by Region:

• Islamabad: Partly cloudy with chances of rain and heavy falls.
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Thunderstorms expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, and others. Heavy rainfall is likely in northern districts.
• Punjab: Widespread showers across Rawalpindi, Murree, Lahore, Gujranwala, and southern districts.
• Sindh: Mostly hot and humid, with light rain possible in coastal areas.
• Balochistan: Hot conditions with isolated rain in Barkhan, Zhob, and surrounding districts.
• Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan: Partly cloudy skies with scattered rain and localized heavy showers.