Floods Devastate Northwestern Pakistan, Claiming Lives
BANNER, Pakistan – Officials reported on Saturday that floods in northwestern Pakistan have resulted in at least 220 deaths. Rescuers have uncovered 63 bodies from a house that was destroyed by sudden floods and landslides overnight.
Some witnesses managed to escape the deluge in Banner. They described seeing floods carrying a multitude of rocks and debris crashing down.
This year, Pakistan has experienced unusually heavy monsoon rains, leading to floods and landslides that have claimed around 541 lives since late June, a situation attributed to climate change, according to the National Disaster Management Agency.
Emergency Services spokesperson Mohammad Suhail stated that hundreds of rescuers are still on the ground searching for survivors in the region. Many houses have been completely destroyed.
Kashif Kaiyum, the deputy chief of Banner, noted that responders are focused on retrieving bodies from severely impacted villages like Pir Baba and Malik Pura, where many victims have been found.
Local police officer Imtias Khan recounted how he barely escaped disaster. He mentioned the flood’s sudden intensity, which collapsed his house within moments.
“The stream near Pir Baba surged without warning,” he explained. “Initially, I thought it was just a regular flash flood, but then the rushing rocks struck, and 60 to 70 houses were wiped out instantly.”
“Our police station disappeared as well. If we hadn’t moved to higher ground, we wouldn’t have made it,” he added.
As waters began to recede, rescuers observed massive boulders obstructing streets in Pir Baba, which had been severely affected.
Witness Sultan Said, 45, expressed disbelief at the nature of the flood, describing it as unprecedented. He suffered an arm injury during the chaos.
Mohammad Khan, 53, emphasized the flood’s swiftness, mentioning that many residents didn’t have time to escape.
Dr. Mohammad Tarik from Banner reported that many victims died before reaching hospitals, citing a tragic loss of life that included many children and men, while women were often tending to livestock at the time.
On Saturday, a mass funeral was held, and authorities provided tents and food for the impacted families.
Local cleric Mufti Fazal mentioned that he had led numerous funeral prayers since the floods began. “Just two days ago, this area was full of life. Now, there’s only sorrow,” he remarked.
School teacher Suleman Khan tragically lost 25 relatives, feeling fortunate he and his brothers were away from home at the time of the disaster.
In related news, at least 351 people died this week in rain-related incidents in the northern territories of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, according to provincial disaster management reports.
Rescue operations continue across the border in Indian-controlled Kashmir, specifically in the remote Kishtwar district, where flash floods injured around 150 people and left dozens missing.
The floods coincided with an annual Hindu pilgrimage, prompting authorities to rescue over 300 individuals, though around 4,000 pilgrims remain safely evacuated.
Experts attribute the rising frequency of such extreme weather events in both the Himalayas of India and northern Pakistan to climate change.
Pakistani officials report that since Thursday, more than 3,500 tourists trapped in flood-affected areas have been evacuated, even as some travelers disregard government advisories against visiting vulnerable regions.
Last year, the monsoon season in Pakistan was particularly devastating, resulting in over 1,700 fatalities and incurring damages estimated at around $40 billion.
