Heavy rains and roof collapses kill 17, injure 56 across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

PESHAWAR: At least 17 people, including 14 children, have died and 56 others injured after heavy rains triggered roof and wall collapses across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since March 25, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported on Monday. Intermittent rainfall is expected to continue until Tuesday.

Bannu recorded the highest casualties with eight deaths, including seven children and one woman, and 42 injured. Abbottabad reported five fatalities, including four children, while Kohat and North Waziristan saw two and one deaths, respectively. In Battagram, one woman was killed.

The rains caused extensive structural damage, with 11 houses reported damaged, five of them in Bannu. In Dad Kachlot village, a roof collapse in Sher Muhammad Khan’s house killed three children: nine-year-old Asif, six-year-old Umrah, and three-year-old Javeria. At Kotka Ghulam Qadir, a veranda roof collapsed at a community center, killing two and injuring 39.

Other deadly incidents included:

• Mama Kheil: house wall collapse killed two children, Abu Sufyan (11) and Wajahatullah (8)

• Shamdi Khel: roof collapse killed Iqbal’s mother

• Kohat: Gumbat house roof collapse killed two children, Laiba (10) and Abdul Karim (12)

• Abbottabad: Khaitar Hajiya Gali roof collapse killed five, including one adult and four children

In Lakki Marwat and Nowshera, additional roof collapses injured several residents, who were promptly rescued and hospitalized by local teams.

PDMA officials continue to monitor the situation, with rescue and relief operations underway across affected districts. Authorities have urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel in flood-prone areas. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and called for expedited relief operations.

Meanwhile, Swat and other higher-altitude areas are experiencing intermittent snowfall, adding to the cold. Snow has covered regions including Kalam, Mahodand, Gabral, Ushu, Matiltan, Gabin Jabba, and Malam Jabba, attracting tourists despite the harsh weather.

The Meteorological Department has forecast continued rain in plains and snowfall in higher altitudes over the next four days, advising travelers to exercise caution and stay updated on weather conditions.