Pakistan Devastated by Torrential Rains: Over 200 Dead in 24 Hours
Peshawar – Unprecedented monsoon rains, cloudbursts, and landslides have wreaked havoc across northern Pakistan, claiming more than 200 lives in just 24 hours, officials confirmed Friday. Survivors described the disaster as “doomsday-like,” with entire communities swept away, homes destroyed, and families lost in moments.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), at least 194 fatalities were officially recorded nationwide: 180 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), 9 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and 5 in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B). Among the victims were 19 women and 17 children, most of whom died due to collapsing homes or sudden flash floods. However, local sources reported that the death toll in K-P alone had reached 214, with 157 deaths in Buner district, the hardest-hit area.
K-P Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah confirmed 100 deaths in Buner, where emergency status was declared in Daggar, Gadezai, Gagra, Mandanr, and Chagharzai. In Bajaur, a midnight cloudburst and lightning strike destroyed four homes in Jabrai village, killing 21 people, many from the same families. In Shimlai, Mansehra district, another cloudburst swept away 10 homes into the Nandhar stream, killing over 25 residents, most from a single family. Shangla, Swat, and Battagram also reported dozens of deaths and widespread destruction.
They received messages of condolences from all over the world, including Azerbaijan, Turkiye Iran and Uzbekistan.
Severe Infrastructure Damage
Entire villages were submerged, the Alpuri-Bisham highway was washed away in several places, and over 35 power towers were toppled, plunging parts of Shangla into darkness. Graveyards, shops, and homes were swept away, while tourists and locals stranded in northern areas had to be rescued from flooded rivers and submerged roads.
National Emergency Response
The K-P government declared Buner, Bajaur, Mansehra, and Battagram as disaster zones and announced a day of mourning. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened an emergency meeting, directing the NDMA to deploy all available resources to support rescue and relief efforts. NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik briefed the Prime Minister on ongoing operations, and immediate delivery of tents, medicines, food, and other relief supplies was ordered.
The Pakistan Army has mobilized substantial resources. Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir instructed troops to fully support relief efforts, deploying additional units, helicopters, engineers, and Urban Search and Rescue teams. Temporary bridges are being installed to reconnect isolated areas, and 600 tons of army rations along with one day’s salary from all personnel have been allocated to assist flood victims.
Worsening Weather Forecast
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned of continued heavy rainfall in upper K-P, the Potohar region, and Kashmir, raising fears of further flooding and landslides. Authorities urged the public to avoid rivers, streams, and unnecessary travel, while tourists were advised to stay away from northern areas for at least a week.
Meanwhile, landslides in Gilgit-Baltistan blocked the Jaglot-Skardu road at multiple points, with clearance operations underway. Officials noted that the monsoon season, which began earlier than usual, is expected to last longer this year, with intensifying rains over the next 15 days likely to worsen the crisis.
Federal Support and Solidarity
During a call with K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pledged full federal support to the province. “The federal government will provide all possible assistance,” he said, offering condolences to the victims’ families.
As Pakistan braces for more rain, the nation mourns one of its deadliest natural disasters in recent memory, with emergency responders racing against time to rescue survivors and deliver aid amid overwhelming devastation.
Source:
Over 200 Killed as Monsoon Rains Devastate Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Northern Pakistan – The Gulf Observer
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