August 17, 2025

Brace yourself for heartbreaking news from the northwestern mountains of Pakistan! Over 300 people have lost their lives after two days of fierce monsoon storms slammed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. This area, remote and rugged, faced a deadly mix of cloud bursts, lightning, flash floods, and landslides — the worst rains of this monsoon so far. By Saturday, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority confirmed 307 dead, with many others still missing. Neighbouring countries like India and Nepal are also battling floods and heavy rains, showing the region is under serious threat. In Bajaur district, near the Afghan border, Saeedullah’s story is painfully haunting. He was asleep in his yard when thunder woke him up. Rushing inside, he found the roof had collapsed, possibly struck by lightning which even set parts on fire before the rain poured down. Tragically, Saeedullah lost his wife and five children. With neighbours’ help, he dug through rubble and buried his beloved family the very next day. “There is destruction everywhere, piles of rubble,” said Saeedullah, 42. Buner district, north of Islamabad, took the worst hit with 184 confirmed deaths. Bilal Faizi, spokesperson for Pakistan’s 1122 rescue team, explained a sudden cloud burst sent a huge wave racing down into villages, giving no time to escape. Zahid Hussain, a 62-year-old from Beshonrai village, said his place saw more than 60 deaths and 20 missing. He bravely saved a nephew trapped by rising waters, but sadly, their home was washed away “within minutes,” making them homeless instantly. High up in Islamabad, leaders sprang into action. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar shared that both civilian and military forces are working tirelessly on rescue and relief. Prime Minister chaired an emergency meeting, and Provincial Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah confirmed medical camps are opening, with food and aid flowing to those who lost their homes. However, tragedy struck again when a rescue helicopter crashed in bad weather on Friday, claiming the lives of all five crew members. Meteorologist Zaheer Babar painted a bigger picture: "We are seeing more intense and frequent extreme weather events because of climate change." He explained how heavy mountain rains turn into deadly flash floods downstream. Adding to the risk, people living close to rivers, blocked waterways due to garbage and construction — all make flooding worse. Mother Nature’s fury has hit hard, showing urgent need for better planning and climate action to save lives in the future.

Read More at Economictimes →

Tags: Pakistan floods, Khyber pakhtunkhwa, Monsoon rains, Flash floods, Disaster relief, Climate change,