The death toll from devastating floods in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has climbed to 307 in just 48 hours, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed on Saturday.
According to officials, Buner district suffered the highest losses with 184 fatalities, followed by Shangla (36), Mansehra (23), Bajaur (21), Swat (22), Battagram (15), Lower Dir (5), and Abbottabad (1). Among the victims were 279 men, 15 women, and 13 children. At least 23 others were injured, while homes, schools, and bridges were washed away across multiple districts.
Rescue teams remain engaged in Buner, where entire localities have been buried under debris. Officials said several people are still trapped, and operations continued overnight to clear blocked areas.
The Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps are leading relief operations in Buner, Swat, and Bajaur, using helicopters to deliver food and evacuate stranded families. Army Chief Gen. Syed Asim Munir directed troops to expedite rehabilitation, with one day’s salary and 600 tons of rations donated for victims. Engineers have also been tasked with repairing washed-away bridges and constructing temporary ones.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has dispatched a team to Peshawar on the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. NDMA officials warned of further landslides in northern areas and urged tourists to avoid traveling for the next five to six days.
Tragedy deepened when a government MI-17 helicopter carrying relief supplies crashed in Mohmand district, killing all five crew members, including two pilots. The chopper went down in Pandiali tehsil due to bad weather. Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur declared a day of mourning, saying, “These individuals lost their lives while helping others during this crisis. Their sacrifice will be remembered.”
The floods also disrupted education, with ETEA exams postponed in Upper Dir, Lower Dir, and Chitral until further notice.
