Peshawar – The death toll from flash floods and torrential rains in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province has climbed to over 300, with officials warning that the situation could worsen as heavy rains continue.

According to an initial damage assessment released by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), at least 307 people have died and 23 others injured over the past 48 hours amid relentless downpours and flash flooding.

The victims include 279 men, 15 women, and 13 children, while the injured comprise 17 men, four women, and two children. Officials said many others remain missing, particularly in remote mountainous districts where rescue operations are hampered by blocked roads and collapsed bridges.

Homes Destroyed, Villages Cut Off

The PDMA report said that 74 houses have been damaged, of which 11 were completely destroyed and 63 partially damaged. Several villages in Swat, Buner, Bajaur, Torghar, Mansehra, Shangla, and Battagram districts have been heavily affected, with Bajaur and Battagram emerging as the worst-hit regions.

In Buner district alone, authorities confirmed 184 deaths, while dozens of residents remain unaccounted for. Rescue teams, supported by the Pakistani military, are continuing search and relief efforts, though officials admit access remains limited due to flooding and landslides.

Heavy Rains to Continue

Meteorologists have warned that the current spell of monsoon rains is expected to continue intermittently until 21 August, raising fears of further flash floods and landslides in KP’s already vulnerable mountainous terrain.

Government Response

KP’s Chief Minister has ordered the immediate release of emergency relief funds for affected districts. Local authorities said food supplies, tents, and medical kits are being dispatched to displacement camps where hundreds of families have sought shelter.

Pakistan, which has faced devastating floods in recent years, remains highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters. Experts warn that changing weather patterns are leading to more intense and unpredictable monsoon rains, overwhelming already fragile infrastructure in rural areas.