PESHAWAR: Heavy monsoon rains across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have left at least 12 people dead and 19 others injured as flash floods, landslides and structural collapses wreak havoc in multiple districts, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
The ongoing rain spell, which began on July 19, has severely impacted several regions including Mansehra, Khyber, Upper Chitral and Peshawar. According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the heavy downpours are expected to persist until July 23.
Casualties have been reported across different parts of the province due to flood-related incidents and house collapses. In Khyber district, six people lost their lives when a vehicle attempted to cross a flooded watercourse running over a main road and was swept away.
Continuous rainfall has also compromised mud structures, causing roof and wall collapses in vulnerable communities. A lightning strike has also claimed two lives in the province.
In Mansehra, landslides and flash floods briefly blocked the road leading to Lake Saiful Muluk before emergency crews restored one-way traffic. Meanwhile, glacial runoff and overflowing streams reported in Upper Chitral’s Yar Khun Valley have placed local communities on high alert.
Contingency plan activated
In response to the crisis, the PDMA has activated a comprehensive contingency plan using historical disaster data dating back to 2010. The authority has identified and deployed emergency responders to 42 critical water rescue points across high-risk districts.
"Rescue 1122 teams, emergency medical personnel, and specialized divers are guarding these designated high-risk areas 24/7," said the Director General of PDMA, Arifullah Awan, while speaking to Pakistan TV Digital.
Non-food relief items -- including tents, mattresses, kitchen sets and dry food rations -- have been dispatched to pre-identified safe evacuation points, while emergency funds have been placed at the disposal of deputy commissioners.
Arifullah said that multiple rescue operations were carried out and people were saved from being stranded due to landslides or floods.
“We prepared contingency plans in which we have spelled out the kind of disasters that we expect in each district. Certain districts are prone to landslides; other areas that are low-lying have the issue of inundation from the nearby rivers. Then in some areas, we have the problem of cloudburst as well,” Arifullah said.
Provincial authorities have also tasked the Irrigation Department with removing illegal encroachments along critical waterways to prevent chokepoints, while municipal water and sanitation companies continue clearing urban drainage channels.
PDMA issues urgent advisory
With more rain forecast over the coming days, the PDMA has issued an urgent advisory to the public and tourists.
Visitors traveling from other regions into flood- and landslide-prone areas are cautioned against navigating hazardous mountain terrains without ensuring vehicle fitness, particularly brakes and tires.
Authorities have also warned against visiting glacial zones in Swat and Chitral due to the risk of glacial lake outburst floods caused by unstable summer ice. Residents living near swelling rivers have been urged to cooperate with the local authorities and move to safer ground.
