At least 202 people — including women and children — have lost their lives as devastating floods swept through Malakand Division and adjoining areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported on Friday.
Officials fear the death toll could rise further, as many remain missing.
Buner district emerged as the worst-hit, where a powerful cloudburst caused catastrophic flooding. Deputy Commissioner Buner confirmed at least 120 fatalities, prompting the imposition of a flood emergency.
The torrential downpour began late Thursday night and continued into Friday morning, destroying homes, farmland, and infrastructure.
The surge in streams, nullahs, and even roads forced residents to seek safety on rooftops, while numerous vehicles were swept away by the raging waters.
In Bajaur, the first district to be struck by the cloudburst, flash floods claimed 17 lives and left eight injured. Meanwhile, initial reports from Battagram indicate 10 confirmed deaths and 18 missing persons. Fatalities have also been reported from Mansehra, Torgarh, Shangla, and Swat.
In a tragic turn of events, a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government helicopter — en route to assist with flood rescue in Bajaur — crashed in Mohmand’s Chengai Banda area, killing all five crew members on board.
Authorities continue rescue operations across the region, warning that the full scale of the disaster is yet to emerge.
