KHYBER — Rescue workers recovered three bodies from a rain-swollen stream in the Khyber district early Tuesday, hours after a vehicle carrying Afghan nationals was swept away by flash floods.
The incident occurred in the Tora Tigga area, where heavy monsoon rains triggered a sudden surge of water through a dry mountain pass. Local authorities confirmed the vehicle was attempting to cross the seasonal nullah when the torrent hit, dragging the car and its occupants downstream.
Local police and rescue teams from the 1122 service launched a search operation immediately after receiving distress calls from nearby villagers. The rugged terrain and lingering floodwaters hampered initial efforts, forcing teams to wait for water levels to recede before accessing the wreckage.
“The force of the water left the vehicle mangled against the rocks,” said a local rescue official overseeing the recovery. “We found the bodies trapped inside the wreckage about two kilometers from the crossing point.”
Authorities are working to confirm the identities of the victims through travel documentation found at the scene. Officials believe the passengers were traveling toward the border crossing when the flash flood struck without warning.
Heavy rains have battered parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past 48 hours, causing localized flooding and damaging infrastructure across the tribal districts. While the Provincial Disaster Management Authority had issued general weather warnings for the region, the unpredictability of mountain flash floods remains a persistent threat for travelers using low-lying mountain passes.
The recovery operation concluded at noon. Police have shifted the bodies to a nearby hospital for legal formalities before coordinating with Afghan consular officials for repatriation.
