Peshawar – A wave of natural disasters triggered by cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides has caused widespread destruction across multiple districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. So far, over 200 people have lost their lives, while dozens more remain injured or missing.
The district of Buner has been the worst-hit, with more than 120 fatalities reported and several others missing. Following a sudden cloudburst, flash floods swept away entire villages, destroyed homes, and carried off livestock and vehicles. The provincial government has declared a state of emergency in Buner.
In Swat, the swollen river carried away everything in its path, with floodwaters from a stream flowing through Mingora inundating nearby homes. Several connecting bridges were submerged or damaged by the torrents.
In Bajaur, 21 people lost their lives after cloudbursts triggered flooding and landslides in the region. In Dheri Haleem village of Mansehra, 16 bodies were recovered from floodwaters in Batagram after a devastating cloudburst during the night. The government has declared Buner, Bajaur, Mansehra, and Batagram as calamity-hit areas.
According to rescue officials, last night’s flood in the Jabrai area of Salarzai tehsil in Bajaur destroyed several houses and washed away connecting roads and bridges.
Tragedy struck again during relief operations in Bajaur, as a helicopter of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, carrying aid and personnel, crashed due to inclement weather, resulting in the martyrdom of five crew members, including two pilots.
The KP government has declared a day of mourning across the province in memory of those lost in the helicopter crash.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur stated that contact with the helicopter was lost in the airspace over Mohmand due to poor weather conditions while it was en route to deliver relief goods to Salarzai. He further confirmed that a second KP government helicopter is actively engaged in rescue operations in Buner.
Rescue and relief efforts continue amid challenging weather conditions, with authorities urging residents in vulnerable areas to evacuate and cooperate with emergency services.
