Snow and rain trigger flooding and landslides in northern K-P

Heavy rain, hail and snow battered northern parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province for a third consecutive day, triggering flash floods and landslides that disrupted daily life and left several key roads blocked, local officials said Thursday.

The downpours caused overflowing streams and rivers in Lower Dir, sending water rushing into shops and homes. The weather system, which brought thunder, hailstorms and intermittent snowfall to hilly areas, has intensified the cold across the region.

Upper mountain zones including Kumrat Valley, Lowari Tunnel, Shahi Bin Shahi, Kalpani, Asherai Dara and Jahaz Banda experienced continuous snowfall, officials said.

In the plains, hail severely damaged wheat fields and fruit orchards, raising concerns for local farmers just ahead of harvest season.

The Panjkora River was also reported to be at a low flood level, while water entered commercial areas in parts of Dir district.

In Upper Chitral, heavy landslides and swollen streams cut off access along the Booni-Mastuj road at several points including Reshun, Zait, Kari, Istaro and Reach. Local authorities confirmed that vehicles were stranded in some places.

With Eid approaching, travellers have been advised to postpone non-essential journeys due to the risk of further slides and road closures.

“The situation in the upper reaches is fragile. We urge people to exercise caution,” a district traffic official told Express News.

Access to affected areas remains difficult, and emergency services continue to face challenges reaching remote locations due to blocked routes.