At least nine individuals lost their lives and 23 others sustained injuries due to rain-related incidents across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) over the last 48 hours. The initial monsoon spell, accompanied by strong winds and flash floods, has caused significant disruption throughout the province.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) director general confirmed that heavy rainfall and flash floods have damaged approximately 41 homes in various parts of KP. The affected districts include Khyber, Lower Dir, Mardan, Shangla, Bajaur, Lower Chitral, Dera Par, among others.
Authorities have instructed district administrations to escalate relief efforts and ensure prompt assistance reaches the families impacted by these calamities. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a warning the previous day about increased risks of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), flash floods, landslides, and urban flooding in northern and central regions of the country from July 1 to 4.
In its advisory, the NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) highlighted that rising temperatures combined with an active monsoon system and westerly waves are expected to cause heavy rainfall and accelerate glacier melting. The NEOC urged all relevant authorities to maintain heightened vigilance and advised the public to adhere strictly to official safety guidelines.
Notably, areas adjacent to glaciers in Gilgit-Baltistan, KP, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) are particularly vulnerable to GLOFs due to the rapid glacier melt driven by soaring temperatures and forecasted heavy rains.
