At least 321 people have died in northern Pakistan following flash floods triggered by days of heavy rainfall. Officials confirmed that 15 women and 13 children were among the dead, while at least 23 others were injured in the past 48 hours.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), nine people were killed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and another five in Gilgit-Baltistan. Meanwhile, a government helicopter crashed in bad weather on Friday, killing two pilots and three others on board.
The worst-hit province is Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 307 people have died—most of them swept away by flash floods or trapped under collapsed houses, AFP reported. Nearly 2,000 rescue workers are operating across nine districts, though persistent rainfall, landslides, and damaged roads are hampering relief efforts.
Bilal Ahmed Fayyazi, a spokesperson for the rescue services, said delivering aid has become extremely difficult. “Heavy rain, landslides, and blocked roads are preventing the transport of heavy machinery and ambulances. In many areas, rescuers are reaching survivors on foot. Some residents refuse to evacuate as their loved ones remain trapped under the rubble,” he added.
The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has declared six mountainous districts—Buner, Bajaur, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, and Battagram—as disaster-hit areas. Meanwhile, the meteorological department has issued fresh warnings of more heavy rainfall in northwestern Pakistan and urged residents to take precautionary measures.
Syed Muhammad Tayyab Shah, a representative of the NDMA, said this year’s monsoon began earlier and will end later than usual. “Rainfall intensity will likely increase further in the next 15 days,” he warned.
Eyewitness Azizullah, a resident of Buner district, described the terrifying moment: “I suddenly heard a noise like a mountain collapsing. The ground was shaking, and water was flowing with such force that it felt like the end of the world. It seemed as if death was standing right in front of us.”
So far this monsoon season, which began in June, more than 600 people have been killed across Pakistan. In July alone, Punjab recorded 73 percent more rainfall compared to last year, making it the worst-affected province in terms of casualties.
Source: AFP.