Over 340 Killed In Last 48 Hours As Flash Floods Ravage Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Last Updated:August 16, 2025, 20:26 IST

Rescue efforts are ongoing, with around 2,000 workers deployed across nine affected districts, including Buner, Swat, Shangla, Battagram, Bajaur, and Mansehra

A resident removes sludge from his damaged house a day after flash floods in Pakistan's mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. (AFP photo)

At least 344 people have been killed in the last 48 hours as flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains devastated northern Pakistan, with the worst-hit area being the mountainous province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, authorities said on Saturday.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 324 of the deaths were reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone.

Most casualties were due to flash floods and collapsing houses, while at least 137 people were reported injured. The affected areas remain difficult to access due to washed-out roads, ongoing rainfall, and landslides.

Rescue efforts are ongoing, with around 2,000 workers deployed across nine affected districts, including Buner, Swat, Shangla, Battagram, Bajaur, and Mansehra. The provincial government has declared these districts as disaster-hit zones.

Officials say the rescue operations are being hampered by severe weather conditions. Blocked roads have forced emergency workers to walk to remote locations, carrying out search and relief efforts manually. Many survivors are refusing to evacuate as their loved ones remain missing under the debris.

Five people were also killed when a government relief helicopter crashed during a mission on Friday due to poor weather conditions. In addition, eleven deaths were reported in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and nine more in the Gilgit-Baltistan region.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a warning for continued heavy rainfall in the northwest and urged residents to take precautions. Authorities said this year’s monsoon began earlier than usual and may last longer, with higher-than-average rainfall expected in the coming weeks.

So far this monsoon season, more than 650 people have died and over 900 have been injured across Pakistan. In 2022, record monsoon floods submerged a third of the country, killing around 1,700 people.

Pakistan remains highly vulnerable to climate change, and officials have warned that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe. In 2022, monsoon floods submerged a third of the country and killed around 1,700 people

(With inputs from AFP)

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Pakistan

First Published:

August 16, 2025, 20:26 IST

News world Over 340 Killed In Last 48 Hours As Flash Floods Ravage Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

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