Islamabad: Flash floods and landslides amid heavy rains have resulted in over 250 deaths in Pakistan, as reported by local broadcaster Geo. The most significant loss of life has been in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 224 fatalities have been confirmed.
According to Philippines News Agency, casualties have also occurred in Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, referred to as Azad Jammu and Kashmir. In these regions, schools have been shut down due to ongoing risks posed by the torrential rains. The severe weather has led to the destruction of dozens of homes, and communication lines have been disrupted in several areas due to the collapse of mobile phone towers.
On Friday, a tragic incident occurred when a helicopter transporting relief supplies to the flood-hit Bajaur district crashed, leading to the deaths of five crew members, including two pilots. The authorities have taken proactive measures by relocating numerous residents in the affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, where cloudbursts and landslides have destroyed houses.
The National Disaster Management Authority has issued a warning about a new spell of monsoon rains expected to last until September 10. This is compounded by accelerated glacier melt, which poses a risk of swelling rivers. Monsoon rains, which typically occur from June to September, are known to cause destruction across South Asia. Experts have noted that climate change has contributed to making these weather patterns increasingly severe and unpredictable.