PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province said on Monday evening that 12 people had died in rain-related incidents over the past 24 hours, warning the public to avoid unnecessary travel and visits to vulnerable tourist destinations as heavy monsoon rains continue.
The latest fatalities raise KP’s monsoon death toll to 35 since the season began in late June, according to the country’s disaster agencies, making it the worst-affected province this season.
KP’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said in a statement that heavy rains and flash floods caused roofs and walls of houses to collapse across Peshawar, Khyber, Mardan, Buner, Bajaur, Lower Chitral, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Tor Ghar and Kurram districts.
“The deceased included six men, five children and one woman,” the statement said, adding that 14 people were injured and 14 houses were damaged, including one that was completely destroyed.
The PDMA said district administrations had been directed to accelerate relief operations and provide immediate assistance to affected families, while PDMA, Rescue 1122 and other agencies remained engaged in rescue and response efforts.
It also advised people to avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from sensitive tourist locations and follow official adviseries issued by authorities.
Pakistan Meteorological Department last week forecast strong winds, thunderstorms and heavy rainfall across KP from July 19 to July 23, warning of possible flash floods, landslides and urban flooding, particularly in mountainous districts where fragile infrastructure and settlements remain highly vulnerable to extreme weather.
Earlier on Monday, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in its daily situation report covering the period up to 1300 hours, said 47 people had been killed nationwide since the start of the monsoon season.
Pakistan experiences annual monsoon rains from June to September, but increasingly erratic and intense weather linked to climate change has heightened the risk of flash floods, landslides and infrastructure damage, particularly in the country’s mountainous north and northwest, where vulnerable road networks, homes and public infrastructure are frequently affected.
