By ABDULLAH 
Torrential rains and flash floods have unleashed unprecedented destruction across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), leaving at least 198 people dead and dozens more injured within the past 24 hours. Among the casualties were five Pakistan Army personnel who lost their lives when a rescue helicopter crashed during a relief mission in Mohmand district.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the victims include 172 men, 14 women, and 12 children, while at least 21 others have sustained serious injuries. Rescue teams are struggling to reach cut-off villages as landslides and overflowing rivers continue to block key roads.
A Pakistan Army MI-17 helicopter, carrying essential food and medical supplies to flood-hit Bajaur, went down on Thursday after losing contact with air traffic control due to severe weather. Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur confirmed that all five on board embraced martyrdom while on duty.
باجوڑ کے بارشوں سے متاثرہ علاقوں میں امدادی سامان لے جانے والا صوبائی حکومت کا ایم آئی 17 ہیلی کاپٹر خراب موسم کی وجہ سے کریش کر گیا۔ اس افسوسناک حادثے میں دو پائلٹ سمیت عملے کے پانچ افراد شہید ہوئے۔
— Government of KP (@GovernmentKP) August 15, 2025
وزیر اعلیٰ خیبر پختونخوا علی امین گنڈاپور
“These brave souls sacrificed their lives while saving others. Their courage will be remembered in golden words,” the CM said, announcing a day of mourning across K-P.
The Buner district has reported 92 fatalities as floodwaters swept through entire communities, submerging mosques, destroying homes, and washing away livestock. Local youth were hailed as heroes after risking their lives to save stranded families.
In Bajaur’s Salarzai tehsil, a sudden cloudburst triggered flash floods that killed at least 21 people, including women and children. Rescue teams, supported by Frontier Corps North, delivered tents and food via helicopters despite ongoing rain and blocked roads.
The situation in Battagram and Shangla is equally dire. More than 50 deaths have been confirmed after lightning strikes and landslides destroyed homes and villages. Entire families have been swept away, and dozens remain missing.
The monsoon has crippled vital infrastructure:
- 35 power towers have collapsed, leaving large swathes of Shangla without electricity.
- Key roads, including the Alpuri-Basham highway, have been washed away.
- Hundreds of homes, protection walls, and small hydro stations have been destroyed.
The provincial government has released Rs 500 million in emergency funds to accelerate relief. Of this, Rs 150 million has been allocated to Buner, Rs 100 million each to Bajaur, Battagram, and Mansehra, and Rs 50 million to Swat.
In Swat, more than 2,000 people have been evacuated after heavy rainfall destroyed parts of the Malam Jabba road and flooded villages along the Swat River. Authorities have urged residents to avoid riverbanks and postpone unnecessary travel.
Emergency declarations have also been issued in Dir, Balakot, and Muzaffarabad, where floods have damaged roads, mosques, graveyards, and markets.
Experts warn that this disaster reflects the growing impact of climate change. Pakistan, already ranked among the world’s most vulnerable nations, is facing longer, more destructive monsoon seasons.
“This year’s monsoon started earlier and will likely last longer,” said a representative of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). “The next 15 days could bring even greater risks of flooding and landslides.”
In 2022, historic floods submerged one-third of Pakistan, killing over 1,700 people. Current projections suggest similar patterns may continue unless urgent climate resilience measures are adopted.
The floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are a painful reminder of Pakistan’s fragile infrastructure in the face of extreme weather. While thousands mourn their loved ones, relief workers and volunteers continue to fight against time to save lives.
For now, officials warn the death toll may rise further as rainfall continues until late August.