At least 146 people have been killed, and dozens injured, after a cloudburst and torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the victims include 126 men, eight women, and 12 children. The disaster has destroyed 35 homes, with seven completely demolished. Rescue officials in Buner alone have recovered 120 bodies, as entire villages were swept away. Communication networks have collapsed in many areas, leaving flood-hit communities isolated.
A provincial relief helicopter crashed in Mohmand district while delivering aid to Bajaur, killing all five people on board. KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur confirmed that emergency teams have been dispatched and another helicopter is assisting in Buner’s rescue operations. Meanwhile, electricity supply in Swat has been severely disrupted after floodwaters damaged a key grid station, cutting power to 41 feeders. Fallen trees and destroyed transmission lines have worsened the crisis, with repair teams working on emergency footing.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan warned that the death toll could rise, stating, “Entire villages have been wiped out, roads are gone, and infrastructure is destroyed.” He emphasized the need for helicopters to access cut-off areas and called for urgent federal-provincial cooperation. KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi urged unity, confirming that floods have damaged mobile towers, further hindering relief efforts. The Pakistan Army has launched rescue operations in Swat and Bajaur, airlifting stranded residents and delivering food and medical supplies.
The disaster has also struck Gilgit-Baltistan, where landslides and flash floods killed at least 10 people. In Ghizer, three fatalities were reported after houses were buried under debris, while three others remain missing. Floods in Diamer swept away two siblings and damaged roads, schools, and farmland. The Karakoram Highway’s closure due to a collapsed bridge has disrupted travel between GB and the rest of Pakistan. Authorities have imposed emergency measures, with disaster management teams on high alert to respond to further crises.