Monsoon Rains Kill 14 More in Pakistan, Trigger Flooding and Landslides

Sun Aug 24 2025
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ISLAMABAD: Torrential monsoon rains, accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorms, have killed at least 14 people and injured more than 60 across Pakistan on Saturday night, officials said.

The downpours have caused widespread flooding, power outages, and landslides, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, Punjab, and the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, prompting emergency alerts and rescue operations.

In Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, heavy rainfall and strong winds caused severe damage, claiming ten lives and injuring 60 others.

The district administration declared an emergency and issued precautionary measures for residents.

Roofs, solar panels, walls, trees, and power poles were destroyed, leaving many localities without electricity.

According to rescue officials in Dera Ismail Khan, eight people died in rain-related incidents, including roof collapses.

Forty-one injured individuals were admitted to the District Headquarters Hospital, while six were taken to Mufti Mehmood Hospital. Twenty-six were discharged after receiving first aid.

In Lower Dir, three children — aged 9, 10, and 11 — died when the roof of a house collapsed in Maidan Tikatak, local officials said. Rescue teams retrieved the bodies and shifted them to a hospital.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir

Heavy rain also affected other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Peshawar, Mardan, North and South Waziristan, Charsadda, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mansehra and Lakki Marwat. Authorities warned of potential landslides in Palandri and other mountainous regions.

In Azad Kashmir, rain and thunderstorms in Bagh caused local streams to overflow.

Haripur district and surrounding areas in the Hazara Division reported fallen trees blocking roads, while Skardu authorities advised residents and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel due to forecasted heavy rain.

Hotels along the Gilgit River were closed as precautionary measures. Landslides in Mansehra and Abbottabad blocked roads to Kaghan and Murree, leaving locals and tourists stranded.

Around 150 tourists and more than 25 vehicles stranded on Lake Saif ul Malook Road were rescued, officials said.

Islamabad and Rawalpindi

In Islamabad and Rawalpindi, torrential downpours caused flash floods in several areas, including Bhara Kahu and Athal Chowk.

Water entered homes and shops, while vehicles were stranded. The spillways of Rawal Dam were opened, and several hiking trails in the Margalla Hills, including Trails 2, 3, 4, 5 and the trail behind Saidpur Village, were closed for public safety.

NDMA issues heavy rainfall alert

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a severe rainfall alert effective until 30 August.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) warned of floods in districts including Chitral, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, and Abbottabad.

Urban flooding is expected in low-lying areas of Peshawar, Nowshera, and Mardan. Strong winds and heavy showers could damage mud houses, electricity poles, billboards, vehicles, and solar panels.

In Punjab, the PDMA has raised concerns over rising water levels in the Ravi, Chenab, Sutlej, and Jhelum rivers.

Flood warnings have been issued for northern and north-eastern districts, with the Sutlej River at Ganda Singh Wala flowing at 126,000 cusecs.

Low-level flooding has also been reported at Tarbela on the Indus River. Residents living near riverbeds have been advised to move to safer locations, the PDMA said.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast continued heavy rainfall across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, north-eastern Punjab, Azad Kashmir, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with further risk of flash floods and landslides.

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