KAGHAN — A sudden, intense cloudburst battered the Kaghan Valley on Tuesday, sending torrents of mud and debris surging through residential areas and trapping hundreds of tourists and locals.
The flash flood hit near the Naran bypass, overwhelming local drainage systems within minutes. Mud-slicked water surged into hotels and shops, forcing authorities to launch emergency evacuations as the main Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad (MNJ) road became impassable.
For families vacationing in the valley, the shift was violent. What began as a heavy afternoon downpour quickly turned into a high-pressure deluge that washed away sections of roadside infrastructure. Rescue teams from the Kaghan Development Authority (KDA) and local police scrambled to move people toward higher ground as water levels continued to rise through the evening.
“We saw the water level rising against the lobby doors,” said one tourist stranded at a local hotel. “There wasn’t time to pack bags. The police arrived and told us to move to the upper floors immediately.”
Local officials confirmed that while no casualties have been reported, the economic impact is significant. Several vehicles parked near the riverbank were swept away or buried under silt, and power lines across the Naran bazaar were severed, plunging the town into darkness.
The Kaghan Valley remains particularly vulnerable to these events. Deforestation and unplanned construction along the Kunhar River have reduced the natural buffer zones that once absorbed such surges. When a cloudburst hits this terrain, the water doesn’t soak in—it gathers speed, turning dry mountain ravines into lethal spillways.
Heavy machinery is currently en route to clear the debris choking the main artery of the valley. However, persistent rain is hampering efforts, and the district administration has issued a stern warning for travelers to avoid the route until the weather clears.
As the sun sets over the valley, hundreds of displaced tourists are taking shelter in government buildings and makeshift camps. The water has begun to recede, but for the residents of Kaghan, the focus now shifts to the long task of clearing the silt and assessing a season’s worth of damaged property.
