Monsoon rains claim 20 lives in KP as floods trigger widespread destruction

PESHAWAR: At least 20 people have lost their lives and 19 others have been injured in rain- and flood-related incidents across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since July 19, as torrential monsoon rains battered several districts, triggering flash floods, roof collapses and widespread damage, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).

The deceased included seven men, eight children and three women, while the injured comprised 11 men, four women and four children. The affected districts include Peshawar, Nowshera, Khyber, Mardan, Buner, Bajaur, Shangla, Swabi, Upper and Lower Dir, Lower Chitral, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Tor Ghar, Kurram, and North and South Waziristan.

The PDMA said at least 30 houses had been damaged, including seven that were completely destroyed and 23 partially affected.

In North Waziristan, two men from Eidak drowned after being swept away by a sudden flash flood in the Tuchi River while collecting firewood carried downstream. Rescue 1122 teams, assisted by local volunteers, recovered both bodies after an hours-long search near Zerki Kallay.

Rescue officials warned residents to stay away from rivers and seasonal streams during heavy rainfall, cautioning that water levels can rise dangerously within minutes.

In Upper South Waziristan, four members of the same family, including a husband, wife, son and daughter, were killed when the roof of their house collapsed in Bangi Wala village following torrential overnight rain. District authorities launched relief operations and assured the bereaved family of government assistance.

Meanwhile, flash floods in Lower South Waziristan washed away large tracts of agricultural land after seasonal streams overflowed. Residents urged the provincial government to construct protective embankments to safeguard farmland from recurring flood damage.

Elsewhere, heavy rains disrupted public infrastructure. In Peshawar, rainwater inundated the women's ward at Naseerullah Babar Teaching Hospital, forcing staff and patients to seek higher ground as videos of flooded wards circulated on social media. Another government hospital had experienced similar flooding a day earlier.

In Nowshera, floodwaters entered Government Primary School No. 2 in Taru Jabba, raising concerns over the structural safety of the ageing building. Rescue 1122 also cleared a fallen tree that had blocked access to homes near the livestock market on GT Road in Nasirpur.

The PDMA said rescue teams, district administrations and other emergency services remained engaged in relief operations and had been directed to provide immediate assistance to affected families.

Although water levels in the province's major rivers remain within normal limits, the authority warned that intermittent heavy rainfall is expected to continue through July 23 and advised the public to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from rivers, streams and vulnerable tourist destinations.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has also warned of possible flash floods, urban flooding and landslides in mountainous areas through Thursday, with low-lying parts of Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Mardan and Swabi facing an increased risk of inundation. Strong winds and lightning may also damage electricity infrastructure, solar panels and billboards.

Meanwhile, Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) said it had restored power to 132 of the 148 electricity feeders affected by the recent rains, while repair work on the remaining feeders was continuing.