Flash Floods Wreak Havoc in KP, Gilgit-Baltistan

Staff Report

Torrential rains and flash floods have claimed at least 18 lives across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) in the past 48 hours, triggering large-scale rescue operations and government alerts as more rainfall is forecast.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), 13 people lost their lives in KP alone due to weather-related incidents. The dead include nine children, three women, and one man, while three others — including two children and a woman — were injured.

Swat Worst-Hit as Children Among Dead

Swat emerged as the worst-affected district, where flash floods and a collapsed house left six children and a woman dead. Another child and woman were injured in the same incident.

Rain-related casualties were also reported from Buner, where three people, including a woman and her child, were killed after being struck by lightning. An eight-year-old boy was swept away by strong currents; locals later recovered his body.

In Bajaur, two brothers aged 21 and five died after flash floods hit their area. Their mother was rescued, and both bodies were recovered, according to the Deputy Commissioner’s Office.

Upper Kohistan, Torghar, Kurram, Mardan, Haripur, Mansehra, Upper Chitral, Malakand, and Shangla also reported damages and injuries, with 19 houses affected across KP — 17 partially and two completely destroyed.

Emergency in Gilgit-Baltistan as Tourists Trapped

In Gilgit-Baltistan, the situation has turned critical. Flash floods in the Babusar region have reportedly swept away 10 to 15 people, who remain missing.

The GB government has issued an urgent advisory, asking tourists to postpone their travel plans immediately. Speaking to a private TV channel, government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq said extensive infrastructure damage had been caused by continuous rainfall.

“All stranded tourists on the Babusar route have been rescued and provided temporary shelter in coordination with hotel owners and district administration,” he said.

Road Links Severed, Thousands Stranded

Key routes to Naran and Kaghan remain closed. The Karakoram Highway — a vital link between Gilgit and the rest of Pakistan — is blocked at two points, leaving thousands of commuters stranded. Restoration work is underway on the Silk Route, which remains open for small vehicles up to Bisham.

More Rain Ahead

Authorities have warned of further rain and possible landslides in vulnerable districts. Relief operations are ongoing, with local administrations, army units, and PDMA teams on alert.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has advised residents in northern Pakistan to remain cautious, especially in hilly and flood-prone areas. British High Commission at the forefront of floods response in Chitral