KP Rescue and Relief Operation by Pakistan Army in Full Swing as PMD Warns of More Rains

ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR: Rescue and relief operations are in full swing across flood-hit districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where Pakistan Army engineers are working tirelessly to reopen blocked roads and provide access to stranded residents after flash floods and landslides devastated the region.

Army Engineers Corps personnel successfully cleared the Pir Baba bypass for all traffic and removed debris from the Pir Baba bazaar in Buner overnight. Roads leading to Gokand village were also cleared at several points after landslides, while the Aluch–Poran road has been restored with heavy machinery.

Urban Search and Rescue teams, supported by equipment, continue operations in Bishoni and Qadir Nagar, where five bodies have so far been recovered from a stream. Officials confirmed that operations would continue until normalcy is restored in all affected areas.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), flash floods caused by intense rain and cloudbursts have killed at least 341 people in KP since Friday, with Buner suffering the highest toll of over 200 deaths. Narrow streets have hindered the movement of heavy machinery, slowing rescue efforts.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said that since late June, monsoon rains and flooding have killed at least 660 people nationwide. KP recorded the highest number of fatalities (392), followed by Punjab (164), Gilgit Baltistan (32), Sindh (29), Balochistan (20), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (15), and Islamabad (8). In Buner alone, a cloudburst dumped over 150mm of rain within an hour, wreaking unprecedented havoc.

Other districts, including Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, and Abbottabad, also reported widespread damage. In Swabi, 11 people died on Monday as floods swept away homes, vehicles, and property across hilly areas. NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik warned that two more heavy rain spells are expected between August 21 and September 10, which could worsen the disaster.

Weather Outlook

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast more widespread rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds across KP, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan, Kashmir, and Islamabad on Tuesday. Torrential rains may trigger flash floods in streams and nullahs in KP, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Koh-e-Suleman, and northeastern Balochistan. Urban flooding is possible in low-lying areas of Punjab, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Nowshera, and parts of Sindh. Landslides are feared in Murree, Galliyat, KP, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Over the past 24 hours, heavy rainfall hit several regions: Rawalakot (110mm), Murree (88mm), Chakwal (84mm), Takht Bhai (80mm), and Peshawar Airport (54mm). Meanwhile, Dalbandin and Turbat remained the hottest at 43°C.

Education Closures and Damages

The KP Higher Education Department announced the closure of all colleges and universities in the Counter Zone from August 19 to 25 due to safety concerns, directing institutions to shift to online learning.

A damage report revealed significant destruction: the boundary walls of colleges in Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Shangla, and Swat were destroyed, while water pipelines and supply systems at universities in Swat and Shangla were damaged.

Government Response

KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur announced a salary-donation scheme, with provincial officials contributing varying amounts. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the federal cabinet also pledged their salaries to aid victims, while Federal Climate Minister Musadik Malik promised all major roads would reopen within 24 hours.

Climate Concerns

Experts warn that the intensity of such weather events is rising due to climate change. Chief meteorologist Zaheer Babar said cloudbursts and heavy mountain rains often trigger flash floods downstream, devastating low-lying communities. Poor urban planning, construction on riverbanks, and clogged waterways further magnify the destruction.

Pakistan remains among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations. The catastrophic 2022 floods that submerged a third of the country and killed nearly 1,700 people highlight the scale of the challenge.

Read More: Deadly Floods, Landslides as Monsoon Rains Lash KP, Punjab