KP Government Declares Day of Mourning After Deadly Rains and Floods Kill over 146 People

The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has declared a day of mourning on Saturday after powerful cloudbursts and heavy monsoon rains led to flash floods and landslides across the province, killing at least 146 people.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed the toll on Friday, stating that among the dead are 126 men, 8 women, and 12 children. Dozens more are injured.

Massive Destruction in Buner and Other Districts

The district of Buner was hit hardest. Rescue 1122 reported that at least 120 bodies have been recovered there alone.

The rains caused 35 houses to collapse. Seven of them were completely destroyed, while 28 were partially damaged. Several homes were swept away by water and debris.

Communication lines have also broken down. Mobile phone towers were damaged, cutting off access to many flood-hit areas.

Army and Police Begin Rescue Operations

Police, rescue teams, and Pakistan Army personnel are now working around the clock. Helicopters have been deployed in Buner and Bajaur to rescue trapped residents and deliver emergency supplies.

However, tragedy struck during one of these relief missions. A government helicopter crashed in Mohmand District due to bad weather, killing five people on board, according to the spokesperson of CM Ali Amin Gandapur.

Another chopper continues to operate in Buner, helping in the rescue effort.

Electricity and Roads Severely Damaged

Electricity has been cut off in Swat after floodwaters entered a 132KV grid station, knocking out 41 feeders. According to PESCO, 16 electricity poles leading to Malam Jabba were washed away. Fallen trees have also caused outages across the district.

Emergency staff has been deployed, and a control room is now monitoring the situation.

Emergency Declared, Hospitals on High Alert

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said entire villages have been wiped out. “Roads, bridges, and basic infrastructure are gone,” he stated, warning that the death toll could rise.

He confirmed that a state of emergency has been declared in Buner, with all hospitals on high alert.

KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi echoed the same concerns and said the federal government is standing by the province.

Widespread Destruction in Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK

In Gilgit-Baltistan, at least 10 people were killed due to landslides and floods. Over half a dozen homes were buried in Ghizer, with three people still missing. In Diamer, a brother and sister drowned in floodwaters.

Flash floods in Yasin Thoi damaged homes, water tanks, and farmland. Landslides also blocked the Baltistan and Sadpara roads.

A key bridge in Kohistan on the Karakoram Highway was damaged, cutting off GB from the rest of Pakistan. Emergency services are on high alert.

AJK Also Hit Hard — Schools Closed

In Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), at least eight people were killed and two injured. A cloudburst in Naseerabad killed six people from the same family.

Flash floods have caused massive damage in Bagh, Muzaffarabad, and Neelum Valley. In Muzaffarabad, over 30 homes and shops were destroyed.

AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq chaired an emergency meeting. He approved financial aid for victims and ordered evacuations from high-risk zones.

Schools will remain closed on August 15 and 16.

Tourists Stranded in Neelum Valley

Over 700 tourists, including 300 women and children, are stranded in Ratti Gali after a cloudburst destroyed parts of the road. Locals are helping arrange free accommodation due to bad weather, as rescue efforts continue.