Rain fury devastates K-P

ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR/LAHORE/QUETTA:

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) bore the brunt of the intensifying monsoon system, as relentless rains, flash floods and landslides triggered a series of deadly incidents across the province over the past 48 hours.

The powerful monsoon system has been wreaking havoc across Pakistan over the past 48 hours, leaving at least 42 people dead and dozens more injured as torrential rains, windstorms, flash floods and landslides devastated multiple regions.

At least 19 people have died in rain-related accidents in K-P as the casualties rose on Saturday, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), with more deaths confirmed from the tragic drowning incident in the Swat River involving tourists.

Casualty figures remain fluid as rescue operations continue and additional bodies are recovered.

In its preliminary report, PDMA said that among the 19 fatalities in K-P were six men, five women and eight children, while six others, three men and three women, were injured.

A total of 56 homes were reported damaged, six of them completely destroyed. The worst-hit district was Swat, which accounted for 13 of the deaths and all injuries.

The Swat River disaster, which occurred during a flash flood, claimed the lives of at least 11 tourists, with search operations ongoing for more victims.

Officials confirmed that 58 of 85 stranded individuals were rescued. The government has since suspended several local officials, including the Deputy Commissioner of Swat, Shehzad Mehboob, amid mounting public outrage and demands for accountability.

Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shahab Ali Shah visited Swat's Mingora Bypass area on Saturday to oversee the ongoing rescue operations.

He announced a compensation of Rs1.5 million for each victim's family and vowed strict action against those found negligent, stating that a formal inquiry was underway. "An investigation committee is already in Swat," he said. "Those responsible for administrative lapses will be punished."

Shah also revealed that all mining and excavation along the Swat River had been banned, and an anti-encroachment drive would begin on the riverbanks starting today.

SOPs for tourists have been issued, and emergency responders are being equipped with drones, life jackets and modern rescue tools.

Meanwhile, in District Swabi, authorities rescued four individuals, including a 60-year-old woman, trapped by a flash flood in Adina Khwar.

Section 144 was imposed to ban swimming in rivers, canals and stormwater channels amid multiple recent drownings in the Indus and Pehur canals.

In Punjab, the PDMA reported 12 deaths and 39 injuries from 25 separate incidents, mostly involving collapsed walls and roofs caused by persistent rain and wind from June 25 to June 27.

A total of 28 structural collapse incidents were recorded. Fatalities were reported from Bahawalnagar, Faisalabad and Khanewal.

Director General PDMA Punjab Irfan Ali Kathia has directed authorities to provide the best medical care to the injured and financial compensation to the families of the deceased, as per the chief minister's instructions.

He also advised citizens to avoid unnecessary travel during extreme weather and not to remain in structurally unsound houses. "Keep children away from open drains, power lines, and electric poles," he urged.

The monsoon spell is expected to last until July 1, with the PDMA helpline 1129 open for emergencies.

At the federal level, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a countrywide alert for the next 24 to 48 hours.

According to NDMA, there is an increased risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in Gilgit-Baltistan, particularly in Budswat, Hinarche, Darkot and Ishkoman, where accelerated glacier melt has heightened flood risk.

In Azad Kashmir, areas such as Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Bagh and Kotli face threats of urban flooding and landslides. Severe weather and high winds are also forecast for Peshawar, Mardan, Swat, Dir, Kohistan, Bannu, Karak and Waziristan.

Heavy downpours may hit Islamabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Kasur and Mandi Bahauddin, possibly leading to urban flooding and power disruptions.

Warnings also extend to Sindh and Balochistan, where districts such as Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Quetta, Khuzdar and Zhob are likely to be affected.

The NDMA has urged all provincial and local authorities to take preemptive action and keep the public informed via the NDMA Disaster Alert App.

As grief and outrage grew, local residents, civil society organisations, lawyers, and political parties in Swat staged protests, demanding accountability for negligence that led to the tourist drownings.

Protesters called for immediate legal action against those responsible and demanded resignations from the chief minister and his team.

At the conclusion of the high-level meeting in Swat, a collective prayer was held for the deceased, and fresh orders were issued to expedite the search for the three people still missing.

Meanwhile, monsoon-induced flash floods have led to tragic incidents in Balochistan, particularly affecting the districts of Zhob and Harnai.

In the scenic area of Saliaza, located around 13 kilometres east of Zhob city, four members of the same family lost their lives after being swept away by a sudden flood while on a picnic.

The victims, including a woman, two young girls, and a child, were visiting from Multan.

Rescue teams, including the Levies Force and local volunteers, promptly responded, recovering all the bodies and transferring them to the Trauma Centre in Zhob.

Meanwhile, in the Khost area of Harnai, three individuals became stranded due to rapidly rising water levels in a local stream. Acting on instructions from Deputy Commissioner Harnai Hazrat Wali Kakar, the Levies Force conducted a successful rescue operation, safely retrieving all three men, identified as Hazrat Syed, Zeeshan and Rehan.

Following the incidents, the Deputy Commissioner praised the swift response of the Levies and urged the public to exercise caution during the monsoon season, particularly around rivers and streams.

He also encouraged citizens to report any emergencies directly to the DC Office of Control Room to ensure immediate action by authorities.