Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is reeling from its worst flooding in years, with 307 confirmed deaths over the past two days, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported on Saturday.
The breakdown of fatalities shows Buner as the hardest hit with 184 lives lost, followed by Shangla (36), Swat (22), Mansehra (23), Bajaur (21), Battagram (15), Lower Dir (5), and Abbottabad (1). At least 23 people sustained injuries, while dozens of homes, schools, and bridges were destroyed.
Rescue operations continue in Buner, where locals say entire villages are struggling without shelter or food. According to rescue officials, many people are feared trapped under rubble.
Military and civilian relief efforts are underway across flood-affected districts. Army helicopters are delivering aid and evacuating residents, while the Corps of Engineers is repairing bridges. The army has donated 600 tons of rations and one day’s salary to support victims.
The NDMA, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directives, has dispatched a team to Peshawar to coordinate national response efforts. The authority also warned of landslide risks in northern areas and advised tourists to stay away for the coming week.
In a separate tragedy, a K-P government MI-17 helicopter delivering relief supplies crashed in Mohmand district, killing all five crew members. Officials confirmed the chopper lost contact during bad weather before going down in Pandiali tehsil. Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur announced a day of mourning and state honors for the crew, saying their sacrifice “will be remembered as an act of service to humanity.”
Meanwhile, the ETEA postponed scheduled exams in Upper Dir, Lower Dir, and Chitral due to the disaster. New dates will be announced once conditions improve.