Catastrophic rains and a sudden cloudburst have wreaked havoc across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), leaving 146 people dead and 15 injured over the past 24 hours, officials confirmed. Tragedy struck further when a Pakistan Army helicopter carrying flood relief supplies crashed, killing all five personnel on board.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the fatalities include 126 men, 8 women, and 12 children, while 12 of the injured are minors. Rescue and relief efforts are ongoing in the affected districts.
The torrential downpours also caused significant infrastructure damage, with 35 homes affected—seven destroyed completely and 28 partially. Authorities have urged residents to stay alert, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow PDMA advisories issued through helpline 1700 and official channels.
The helicopter, an MI-17, was en route to flood-hit areas of Bajaur’s Salarzai tehsil when it lost contact with air traffic control over Mohmand district due to severe weather conditions. K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur confirmed the crash and announced a day of mourning, with flags at half-mast in honor of the fallen personnel.
“These brave souls sacrificed their lives while attempting to save others. They are our true heroes,” CM Gandapur said. Rescue teams have been deployed to recover remains and investigate the crash.
خیبر پختونخوا میں سیلابی صورتحال کے دوران ریسکیو اور ریلیف آپریشنز بھرپور انداز میں جاری ہیں۔ ضلع دیر لوئر کے علاقے میدہ میں سیلابی ریلے میں پھنسے 2 بچوں کو ضلعی انتظامیہ اور ریسکیو 1122 کی بروقت کارروائی سے بحفاظت نکال لیا گیا۔#KPFloodUpdates #Rescue1122 #DirLower pic.twitter.com/mV0wmLKzEW
— Government of KP (@GovernmentKP) August 15, 2025
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has established a special emergency flood cell at the PM Office to coordinate rescue operations nationwide, including in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK). Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that NDMA and provincial authorities are fully mobilized to provide relief and early warnings in affected areas.
Bajaur, Buner, Battagram worst-hit
The cloudburst in Bajaur’s Salarzai tehsil killed at least 21 people and destroyed four houses. Rescue teams are searching for missing residents, despite landslides and blocked roads. In Buner district, 78 people have died due to severe flooding in Peer Baba and surrounding areas, with dozens stranded on rooftops awaiting rescue. In Battagram, flash floods claimed 10 lives and left 16 missing.
Other districts, including Swat, Upper and Lower Dir, and Balakot, have experienced extensive damage, with roads washed away, homes inundated, and residents evacuated. Emergency teams rescued stranded villagers, tourists, and laborers trapped by rapidly rising waters.
Officials warn that heavy rainfall is expected to continue until August 21, putting vulnerable areas at risk of further flooding and landslides. Scientists have attributed the unusually intense monsoon rains to climate change, which is making extreme weather events more frequent.
This year’s monsoon has already claimed over 320 lives nationwide, nearly half of them children. Authorities urge residents to exercise caution and heed official warnings as Pakistan continues to face unprecedented flooding.