PESHAWAR/RAWALPINDI – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has vowed to continue large-scale relief and rehabilitation efforts in flood-hit areas, as the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned of fresh spells of torrential rains beginning Sunday.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the death toll in KP alone has surged to 313, with Buner district emerging as the epicenter of destruction, recording 208 deaths and dozens still missing. Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir reported 12 and 11 deaths, taking the combined tally in northern areas to at least 336 fatalities.
The PDMA confirmed that 159 houses were damaged across the province, with 62 completely destroyed. Rescue operations are underway with the support of three army battalions and hundreds of civil defence volunteers.
During his visit to Buner, CM Gandapur announced a Rs1.5 billion relief package, promising food, tents, and medical assistance for the victims. He also assured speedy restoration of roads and infrastructure, stressing:
“We cannot compensate for the lives lost, but financial losses will be covered 100%.”
Rescue teams reported clearing debris from multiple landslide points, rescuing more than 3,500 people so far. A relief emergency has been declared in eight districts, including Buner, while helicopters have been requested for rapid evacuations.
Meanwhile, heavy rains lashed Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Sunday, causing water levels in Nullah Lai to rise. Authorities placed Rescue 1122 on high alert, deploying personnel in low-lying areas.
World leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Turkish Foreign Ministry, extended condolences to Pakistan, expressing solidarity and offering prayers for the victims of the devastating floods.
