Peshawar/Islamabad: At least 154 people have died and several others injured as heavy rains battered Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) over the past 24 hours, officials said on Friday.
The majority of fatalities occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where torrential downpours triggered flash floods across multiple districts. Floodwaters also damaged numerous buildings and blocked key routes, including the Karakoram Highway and Baltistan Highway in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Local authorities reported 75 deaths in Buner, 17 in Mansehra, and 18 each in Bajaur and Batagram. “Over 125 people, including children, have died since Thursday night as cloudbursts followed by flash floods struck the province,” said Faizi, spokesperson for the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). Rescue teams and local residents continue to recover bodies, while the death toll is expected to rise as many remain missing.
Additional fatalities include five in Lower Dir, four in Swat, and one in Shangla, with several others injured. Search and rescue operations are underway under the supervision of Bajaur District Emergency Officer Amjad Khan, while the Pakistan Army is assisting with relief efforts, relocating residents from flooded areas.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Amin Ali Gandapur has ordered full deployment of available resources, instructing the Commissioner of Malakand and the Deputy Commissioner of Bajaur to personally oversee rescue operations.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, flash floods in Ghizer district claimed eight lives and left two missing. The floods destroyed houses, vehicles, schools, and health facilities while disrupting major highways. In the Neelum Valley, more than 600 tourists at Ratti Gali Lake were advised to stay put after a damaged road cut off access. Floodwaters also washed away bridges over Lawat Nullah and Kundal Shahi’s Jagran Nullah, while a riverside restaurant and at least three houses were swept away.
Elsewhere in PoK, a cloudburst in Palhot triggered flash flooding that stranded dozens of vehicles, while rising Neelum River levels prompted authorities to plan the relocation of riverside families. In Muzaffarabad, a landslide buried six members of a family in Sarli Sacha village, who are feared dead. Sudhnoti and Bagh districts also reported deaths from floods and building collapses.
Since the monsoon began in late June, heavy rains have caused widespread devastation across the country, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern regions. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the cumulative death toll has surpassed 325, including 142 children.
