PESHAWAR / SWAT / GILGIT / MUZAFFARABAD – More than 320 people have died in the last 48 hours as torrential rains, flash floods, and landslides wreak havoc across northern Pakistan, officials from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) confirmed on Saturday. Rescue operations are still underway in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), where homes, shops, roads, and bridges have been swept away.
KP suffers heaviest losses
In KP, the death toll surged to 321, with Buner district alone reporting 184 fatalities, making it the hardest-hit area. Dozens more were killed in Swat, Mansehra, Bajaur, and Battagram, while thousands remain displaced.
The KP government has declared nine districts disaster-hit and released Rs500 million for emergency relief. Of this, Rs15 million has been allocated to Buner, while Bajaur, Mansehra, and Battagram will each receive Rs10 million. Around 2,000 rescue workers are engaged in recovery efforts, though officials say washed-out bridges and blocked roads are slowing aid delivery.
“Rescue teams are traveling on foot to reach remote villages,” said Bilal Ahmed Faizi, spokesperson for KP Rescue. “Many survivors are unwilling to leave because their loved ones remain trapped in debris.”
A nationwide 911 helpline has been activated for flood victims under the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while the Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned of continued rainfall until August 21.
Army joins relief operations
The Pakistan Army has deployed additional troops, helicopters, and engineers to repair damaged bridges and restore connectivity. Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir ordered temporary bridges to be installed in cut-off regions and announced that the army’s one-day ration, over 600 tonnes, would be donated to flood victims.
Mourning after helicopter crash
KP observed a day of mourning after a government relief helicopter crashed in Mohmand district due to poor visibility, killing five personnel, including two pilots. DNA samples of the victims have been sent to Lahore for identification.
AJK and GB situation
In AJK, 11 people died in rain-related incidents, including five children. The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) reported that 417 houses were damaged, 104 of them completely destroyed. Most stranded tourists in Neelum Valley have been evacuated, and the Neelum Highway has been reopened.
GB authorities confirmed 12 deaths, with severe flooding damaging key roads and power infrastructure. Bridges in Skardu, Shigar, and Ghanche districts collapsed, while the Satpara powerhouse and several local power plants remained shut, leaving thousands without electricity.
Federal response
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar expressed sorrow over the tragedy, postponing an overseas meeting to focus on flood response. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq urged the youth to take part in relief activities, while Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah called the GB governor to offer assistance.
Repair work on damaged highways, including the Mansehra-Naran-Babusar route, is ongoing, with machinery and manpower dispatched from Punjab and Sindh to speed up restoration.
With 3,817 people affected across 11 districts of KP alone, the disaster underscores Pakistan’s deep vulnerability to extreme weather. Experts warn that climate change is driving more frequent and destructive monsoon rains, echoing the catastrophic floods of 2022 that killed over 1,700 people.
