At least 21 people lost their lives, and seven others were injured in rain-related incidents across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur and Lower Dir districts on Friday. Rescue officials reported that flash floods and structural collapses were the primary causes of the fatalities. Since late June, relentless monsoon rains have wreaked havoc in Pakistan, particularly in KP and northern regions, leading to deadly floods, landslides, and mass displacement.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the country has recorded at least 325 deaths, including 142 children, since June 26. The continuous downpour has caused severe damage, especially in poorly drained and densely populated areas. In Bajaur, a cloudburst triggered flash floods in Salarzai tehsil’s Jabrarai village, where 16 bodies were recovered, and three injured were rescued.
Rescue teams, including divers and medical personnel, faced immense challenges in reaching affected areas due to flooded roads and harsh weather conditions. Bajaur’s District Emergency Officer, Amjad Khan, personally supervised the search operations as seven people remained missing. Meanwhile, in Lower Dir, five people died when heavy rains caused a house roof to collapse in Suri Pao village.
The devastation extends beyond KP, with recent landslides and floods claiming lives in AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan. In Muzaffarabad, a landslide buried six family members, while GB’s Ghizer district reported eight flood-related deaths. With infrastructure severely damaged and rescue efforts ongoing, authorities urge immediate aid and preparedness as the monsoon season continues.
