At least five people, including children, lost their lives in various rain-related incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swat district, as intense monsoon rains caused flash floods and landslides across the region.
Rescue 1122 spokesperson Shafiqa Gul said a woman and her two sons drowned while attempting to cross a flooded stream in Malam Jabba’s Sur Dherai area. “The mother, carrying her 10-month-old baby and helping her seven-year-old son, was swept away by a sudden surge,” she said. Their bodies were later recovered after hours of coordinated rescue operations.
In another tragic incident, a house collapsed in Gujar Band Shanko area of Madyan due to heavy rainfall, resulting in the deaths of three children and critical injuries to a woman. Rescue workers, with help from local volunteers, retrieved the victims and transported them to Civil Hospital Madyan for treatment.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that monsoon rains have led to over 180 deaths and more than 500 injuries since early July. As rains persist in many parts of the country, authorities have issued urban flood alerts and advisories for residents in vulnerable areas.
Meanwhile, torrential rains have continued to cause destruction in other parts of the province. A fresh spell on Monday led to widespread damage to homes, crops, and road networks in Upper and Lower Chitral. In Junali Koch village near Booni, high floodwaters from the Chitral River swept away six homes and large portions of farmland. Arakhan village in the Yarkhon Valley was also hit hard, with dozens of houses and livestock lost.
In Lower Chitral, the flood-prone Ayunand area is at risk as the Chitral River swells further. In Bajaur district, heavy flooding forced authorities to close the Jar Bypass Road, a key route linking the district to other parts of the country. Commuters have been advised to use the Khar-Qazfi Bypass as an alternative.
Rescue 1122 teams have been stationed in vulnerable areas, while road closures, including on Darra Tang Road, have stranded vehicles traveling between KP and Punjab, causing further disruption for transporters and travelers.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have mobilized emergency services to respond swiftly to any future incidents.