Flash Floods Devastate Buner as Northern Death Toll Tops 340

PESHAWAR: The death toll from flash floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa climbed to 327 on Saturday, with fresh casualties reported across several districts, particularly in Buner, which has borne the brunt of the devastation, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).

The figure adds to fatalities in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where at least 12 and nine people have died, respectively, as unprecedented flooding swept through valleys and towns, leaving widespread destruction in its wake.

KP saw its worst day of flooding on Friday when torrential rains and sudden cloudbursts triggered flash floods across multiple districts, killing more than 200 people in a single day. Among them were five crew members of a provincial government helicopter that crashed in Mohmand while carrying out relief and rescue operations.

Buner has emerged as the hardest-hit district, with 204 deaths recorded in the past 48 hours, a PDMA situation report said. Another 120 people were injured, while Deputy Commissioner Kashif Qayum Khan’s office reported that around 50 residents remain missing.

Other districts have also suffered heavy losses: Shangla reported 36 deaths, Mansehra 23, Swat 22, Bajaur 21, Battagram 15, Lower Dir five, and Abbottabad one, where a child drowned, according to the PDMA’s latest figures.

The floods have also inflicted serious damage to infrastructure. Eleven houses were completely destroyed, 63 were partially damaged, and at least three schools — two in Swat and one in Shangla — were left unusable.

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has declared six badly hit mountain districts — Buner, Bajaur, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra and Battagram — as disaster-stricken areas following this week’s catastrophic flash floods.

According to an official notification shared on X, the provincial government has released Rs1 billion to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to ensure “timely compensation, preparedness and response to cope with any untoward situation.”

In addition, over Rs1.55 billion has been allocated to the Communication and Works Department for urgent restoration of highways and bridges damaged in the floods across the affected districts.

On the instructions of Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, the Pakistan Red Crescent has established an Emergency Relief Centre in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to support flood-affected districts.

The centre can be reached through the following numbers: 0300-5849255 (secretary), 0334-9086169 (admin officer), 091-9333666, and 091-2590846.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said he was “deeply anguished by the devastation caused by cloudbursts and flash floods in KP and northern Pakistan,” as he pledged full government support for the affected areas.

In a statement posted on X, the premier offered condolences to the victims’ families and assured that the state was mobilising every available resource for rescue and relief.

He said he had met National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik and instructed him to accelerate operations across nine districts, naming Swat, Buner, Bajaur, Torghar, Mansehra, Shangla and Battagram, with “urgent focus on Bajaur and Battagram.”

“Immediate relief is being provided to stranded residents, medical aid to the injured, and heavy machinery has been deployed to clear roads and restore connectivity,” the prime minister added.

BUNER/PESHAWAR: Confusion over the death toll in flood-hit Buner deepened on Saturday, as the district police put the number of fatalities at 207 — slightly higher than the 204 reported earlier by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).

Deputy Commissioner Kashif Qayum, meanwhile, moved to restrict entry into the battered district, ordering a ban on private vehicles after rescue teams complained their work was being hampered.

Political leaders also made their way to the disaster zone. PTI’s interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who represents Buner in the National Assembly, along with MPA Riaz Khan, visited Bashonai village where they met families mourning loved ones swept away by the floods.

Elsewhere, the province marked a sombre day of mourning for the five crew members killed when a government helicopter crashed during relief operations. The national flag was lowered to half-mast at the Governor House in Peshawar as officials and residents paid tribute to the fallen.

Gilgit:

A large number of tourists remained stranded in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Naltar Valley after floodwaters tore through the region, washing away a section of the Naltar Expressway and cutting off road access, officials said on Saturday.

GB government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq confirmed that the valley had also been plunged into darkness as three local power plants were forced to shut down. “The power supply has been suspended, and connectivity by road has been disrupted,” he said.

Floodwaters from the Jaglot Goro stream entered homes and restaurants in low-lying parts of the valley, compounding the hardship for residents as well as the trapped visitors.

Rescue Teams Struggle Amid Widespread Destruction

The KP Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) told AFP that nearly 2,000 rescue workers are currently deployed across nine affected districts, tasked with recovering bodies and providing relief to stranded residents.

Rescue 1122 Director General Muhammad Tayyab Abdullah said a special elite squad of 80 members has been formed to operate in areas where conditions are “extremely difficult.” He noted that in just the past 12 hours, teams responded to 3,542 emergencies, with 76 vehicles actively involved in operations.

Still, progress remains slow. DG Abdullah acknowledged that destroyed roads have left many towns inaccessible, while damaged mobile towers have cut off communication, preventing people from reaching emergency helplines.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi painted a grim picture: “Heavy rainfall, landslides in several areas, and washed-out roads are causing significant challenges in delivering aid, particularly in transporting heavy machinery and ambulances. Due to road closures in most areas, rescue workers are travelling on foot to conduct operations in remote regions.”

Faizi added that while teams are working tirelessly to evacuate survivors, many families are reluctant to leave devastated homes because their loved ones remain missing or trapped under debris.

Officials Warn of More Rain as Rescue Operations Intensify

In Buner, Rescue 1122 said its director general, Muhammad Tayyab Abdullah, along with Buner Operations Director Mir Alam, North Region Operations Director Arshad Iqbal and the district emergency officer, were personally supervising relief efforts. The DG urged citizens to stay away from floodwaters, drains and bridges, and to immediately contact the 1122 helpline in case of emergencies.

In neighbouring Battagram, Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Saleem Khan confirmed that two more bodies were recovered from Malkal Gali-Neel Band village, which had been struck by a deadly cloudburst early Thursday. Rescue operations in the area resumed at dawn after being suspended overnight due to poor visibility and the difficult terrain.

Meanwhile, Swat’s power infrastructure suffered a heavy blow as floodwaters entered the 132KV grid station, knocking out 41 feeders and cutting electricity across the district. Authorities warned that full restoration could take time given the scale of damage.

The KP PDMA cautioned that rainfall is likely to persist until August 21 across different parts of the province, potentially worsening the crisis. Separately, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued an advisory for Balochistan, urging the provincial government to take emergency precautions ahead of a fresh spell of monsoon rains expected between August 18 and 22.

Published in Daily Pak, August 16th, 2025