ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has declared travel to its northern mountainous and tourist regions unsafe after devastating monsoon rains triggered flash floods and landslides, killing more than 340 people and affecting thousands.
On the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a travel advisory on Saturday, urging local and foreign tourists to avoid hilly areas amid forecasts of more heavy downpours.
The advisory cautioned that journeys to high-altitude destinations pose severe risks under the prevailing conditions, with restrictions under Section 144 to be imposed if required.
The NDMA advisory urged the public to restrict travel to hilly regions during the monsoon to avoid possible accidents.
The NDMA further warned that Section 144 could be imposed if necessary, with law enforcement agencies instructed to ensure strict compliance with any restrictions.
Citizens were advised to avoid travelling to affected areas, follow weather updates, and adopt precautionary measures in line with local conditions.
The advisory comes as large-scale destruction has been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the northern areas of the country following cloudbursts and flash floods.
Dozens of villages have been submerged, hundreds of homes destroyed, and more than 340 lives lost, NDMA stated.
Buner district has suffered the heaviest toll, with over 184 people killed in just two days.
Shangla, Swat, Bajaur and other districts have also reported multiple casualties and widespread displacement, leaving thousands homeless.
Authorities have declared Buner, Bajaur, Battagram and Mansehra as calamity-hit districts.
The NDMA cautioned that under the prevailing conditions, tourist activity is not only dangerous but could prove fatal, urging the public to adhere strictly to government directives.
Heavy rains forecast
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast heavy rains and thunderstorms from August 17 to 19 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with Punjab and Islamabad also expected to receive severe downpours. Low-lying areas face risks of flooding and disruption to daily life.
From August 17 to 21, Sindh and Balochistan are also expected to see widespread rains. The Met Office has warned of flooding in rivers and streams, landslides in hilly regions, and urban flooding in major cities.
Tourists have been advised to postpone travel to high-altitude destinations, while local administrations and relevant departments have been directed to take timely preventive measures.
