Cloudburst and Flash Floods Devastate Northern Pakistan: 164 Dead Across KP, GB, and AJK

Islamabad – Northern Pakistan has been hit by devastating cloudbursts, torrential rains, landslides, and flash floods, resulting in the tragic loss of at least **164 lives** across **Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)**, **Gilgit-Baltistan (GB)**, and **Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)**.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) – 146 Dead, Dozens Injured
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), **KP has witnessed over 146 fatalities**, with the worst-hit districts being **Buner, Bajaur, Battagram, and Mansehra**. The **Buner district alone reported 75 deaths**, including **25 women and 18 children**, as confirmed by hospital authorities.
Cloudbursts and flash floods ravaged more than a dozen villages in Buner, leaving entire communities devastated. PDMA also reported **over 60 injuries**, and **30 homes damaged**, of which **5 were completely destroyed**.
Multiple rescue operations are underway with the support of provincial helicopters. Affected districts have been declared disaster zones, and additional rescue teams have been deployed.
Army Flood Relief Operations
The **Pakistan Army** is actively conducting **rescue and relief operations** in the flood-affected regions of **Swat** and **Bajaur**, using helicopters to evacuate stranded people and deliver food and medical aid.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) – 8 Dead, Roads and Infrastructure Damaged
AJK also suffered severe damage from storms and flooding, resulting in **8 deaths**, including **6 members of the same family in Muzaffarabad**.
Landslides and flooding washed away parts of the **Ratti Gali road**, leaving **over 500 tourists stranded** at the Ratti Gali base camp. Authorities have confirmed all tourists are safe. Key roads, including the **Kohala–Rawalpindi highway**, have been blocked, and multiple **bridges and over 30 properties** have been destroyed.
Due to ongoing landslides, all public and private schools in the affected regions will remain **closed for the next two days**.
Gilgit-Baltistan – 10 Dead, Power Infrastructure Damaged
In GB, **10 people lost their lives**—**8 in Ghizer** due to flooding, and **2 children in Diamer**. Flash floods also destroyed the **Naltar Power Station**, plunging Gilgit city into darkness.
Rescue efforts and road clearance operations are in progress, and residents near **Hasanabad Nala** in Hunza have been instructed to evacuate due to erosion caused by melting from the **Shishper Glacier**.
Forecast and Alerts
The PDMA warns that **sporadic heavy rains may continue until August 21**, and the public is advised to remain alert, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow safety instructions from local authorities.
This widespread natural disaster has paralyzed life across the region, with disrupted communication, damaged infrastructure, and displaced populations. Authorities continue to work around the clock to provide relief and restore normalcy.