Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Grapples with Flood Aftermath: Over 340 Lives Lost

Following days of intense monsoon rainfall, flash floods swept through Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, tragically resulting in the deaths of more than 340 individuals in a 48-hour period. Rescue teams continued their efforts on Saturday, working to clear away the mud and debris. The NDMA reported 324 fatalities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, with additional deaths occurring in PoJK and PoGB. Injuries were sustained by at least 137 people as homes were destroyed and residents, livestock, and vehicles were carried away by the floodwaters. The provincial government took action and declared six districts – Buner, Bajaur, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, and Battagram – as disaster zones. The scale of devastation included the destruction of thousands of homes and extensive damage to vital infrastructure such as roads and bridges, hampering the rescue and relief efforts. Rescue operations were significantly challenged by the conditions, including heavy rainfall, landslides, and washed-out roads, which made transporting heavy equipment and ambulances very difficult. In certain areas, rescue workers had to travel long distances to reach the affected areas. The evacuation of survivors was a priority, though the emotional impact of the situation, with the loss of relatives, complicated relocation. Rescue operations involved about 2,000 personnel, and officials cautioned that more victims could still be trapped in the rubble in remote areas. In Shangla district alone, 37 deaths were confirmed, and numerous individuals were still missing. The flooding, landslides, and lightning strikes left hundreds injured, destroyed homes, and displaced whole communities. The overall death toll was increased by the tragic incidents, including the crash of a government helicopter on a relief mission in Bajaur. Eleven fatalities occurred in PoJK, and nine in PoGB.