At least nine people were killed as torrential rains and flash floods battered Khyber and several other districts of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province on Tuesday, 21 July, according to local media reports. Fatalities were confirmed in Khyber, Mardan, and Bajaur districts, while widespread infrastructure damage was reported across multiple other areas of the province.

Death Toll and Rescue Operations

Rescue 1122 spokesman Bilal Ahmad Faizi confirmed that the bodies of two young men were recovered in Landikotal, while four others — including a woman and a child — were found in different areas of Jamrud. Two children died after the roof of a house collapsed during heavy rain in Mardan, and one more person perished in Bajaur, bringing the confirmed death toll to nine.

Over 50 Rescue 1122 personnel, including specialised diving teams, were deployed for rescue operations in Khyber district. A video that circulated on social media showed a man trapped in floodwaters in Khyber district appealing for help; according to reports, he was swept away by the strong current and his body was subsequently recovered from Regi Khwar.

Infrastructure Damage Across KP

Flash floods and cloudbursts damaged roads, bridges, houses, shops, fish farms, orchards, crops, and public infrastructure in Mansehra, Abbottabad, Chitral, Shangla, and other districts. Traffic movement was suspended and electricity and communication networks were disrupted across affected areas.

The Pakistan-Afghanistan highway remained shut for several hours after flash floods inundated roads at nine separate points where seasonal streams rose to dangerous levels. Afghan nationals returning to Afghanistan were left stranded as a result. According to residents, a vehicle carrying Afghan passengers was swept away by floodwaters in Landikotal, while two other vehicles were submerged near Zakaria Mosque in Landikotal and Sultankhel village. Local residents reportedly rescued the occupants of those vehicles.

Pattern of Recurring Monsoon Disasters

This is not an isolated event. In June, seven people were killed and eight others were injured when heavy rains and a windstorm struck several parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Roofs and walls of houses and shops collapsed after the storm hit Paharpur city and surrounding villages in Dera Ismail Khan district. The dead included a man from Paharpur, a man from Chah Dyal Bagwani, and two women from Zandar village. Solar panels, trees, and livestock shelters were also destroyed in that incident.

Separately, three people were killed and four others injured due to lightning strikes in Orakzai tribal district, in an incident that took place in the Sam Ferozkhel area of lower Orakzai, according to a Rescue 1122 official.

What Comes Next

Pakistan's monsoon season typically peaks between July and September, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's mountainous terrain makes it particularly vulnerable to flash flooding and landslides. With rescue teams still active and communication lines disrupted in several districts, the full extent of damage and casualties may rise as assessments continue.