Heavy rains and flash floods have claimed 229 lives across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the past 24 hours, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). The casualties include two women and eight children, while 14 people have been injured—among them 11 men, two women, and one child. The PDMA reported that 30 houses have been damaged, with 25 partially destroyed and five completely demolished.
Fatal incidents were recorded in Swat, Buner, Bajaur, Torghar, Mansehra, Shangla, and Battagram, with Bajaur and Battagram among the hardest-hit districts. Rescue operations are underway, with PDMA teams, local authorities, and volunteers working to reach affected communities. The authority has warned that heavy rains are expected to continue intermittently until August 21, potentially worsening the flood situation in vulnerable areas.
Survivors have appealed to the government to accelerate rescue efforts and provide immediate shelter for those left homeless. In Mansehra, lightning strikes and a cloudburst triggered further flooding, adding to the casualties and property damage. In Swat’s Mingora, Malam Jabba, Haji Baba, Khwazakhela, and Marghazar, low-lying areas have been submerged, flooding hundreds of homes and cutting off access to several localities. Many residents, including women and children, have taken refuge on rooftops, while others are evacuating on their own as the situation continues to deteriorate.
