Rescue Operations Continue in KP as Flash Floods Claim 314 Lives

Residents look on as workers clear a road blocked by fallen trees after a storm triggered heavy rains and flooding in Pacha Qaly Bazar, Buner district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on August 16. — Reuters

Rescue operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) entered their third consecutive day after devastating flash floods left at least 314 people dead and 156 others injured, according to the provincial disaster management authority (PDMA). The floods have also caused severe destruction to homes, schools, and infrastructure across multiple districts.

Emergency Declared in KP

The KP government declared a state of emergency on Saturday as torrential rains swept through Buner, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Bajaur, and other districts. Authorities warned that dozens of victims may still be trapped beneath debris, with rescue workers racing against time and weather conditions to reach them.

Buner has been the hardest-hit district, reporting 209 deaths and 120 injuries. Shangla followed with 36 fatalities, while Mansehra and Bajaur each reported over 20 deaths. Swat recorded 16 deaths, while Lower Dir saw five people killed in thunder strikes and roof collapses. Battagram also reported three deaths due to thunder strikes.

Widespread Damage

The PDMA report confirmed that 159 houses have been damaged, including 62 completely destroyed, while 57 schools were also partially damaged. Roads, agricultural fields, and shops have been washed away or left submerged, further complicating rescue efforts.

In Buner’s Daggar Village, heavy machinery was deployed to clear blocked routes, but continuous rainfall has made reopening the Gadezai causeway impossible. Despite these challenges, rescue teams recovered several bodies and successfully rescued two women and a group of students in Swat.

Rescue Efforts in Full Swing

More than 2,000 rescue workers, including personnel from Rescue 1122, district officials, and volunteers, are engaged in operations across nine flood-hit districts. The teams are working to retrieve bodies, rescue trapped residents, and shift displaced families to safer locations.

Bilal Ahmed Faizi, spokesperson for KP Rescue 1122, said that while hundreds have been rescued, concerns remain that many more people are still buried under debris. “The chances of survival for those still trapped are very slim,” he added.

Over 850 people have been rescued in Buner alone, where 181 bodies have been recovered from the worst-affected areas including Gaddizi, Bishoni, Malikpur, and Balokhan. In Daggar, 30 deaths were reported in Gokand and Kot, while more than 200 people, including women and children, were evacuated to safe shelters. In Chagharzai, 41 bodies were recovered and 35 injured residents were shifted to hospitals for treatment.

Support from Other Districts

Rescue personnel and emergency vehicles from Swabi and Peshawar have joined the operations to reinforce efforts in Buner and surrounding districts. Officials said specialized rescue teams are working day and night to locate survivors and provide medical aid. AFP journalists reported that mud, fallen trees, and half-buried vehicles continue to hinder rescue vehicles from reaching remote villages.

Buner Rescue 1122 confirmed that houses, agricultural land, and key infrastructure in the area have suffered massive destruction, with many families left homeless. District officials remain on high alert as rescue and relief operations continue across KP.