Islamabad, Aug 16 (NationPress) – Devastating monsoon rains and flash floods have continued to cause significant destruction across Pakistan, leading to the tragic loss of 307 lives and leaving 23 injured in the province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in just 48 hours, as reported by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Saturday.

The PDMA indicated that the district of Buner suffered the most, recording 184 fatalities, followed by Shangla with 36, Bajaur with 21, Mansehra with 23, Swat with 22, Battagram with 15, Lower Dir with five, and Abbottabad with one.

Among the deceased, there were 279 men, 15 women, and 13 children. The disaster has resulted in extensive infrastructural damage, including 63 houses completely destroyed and 74 partially damaged. Schools and bridges have also been washed away in numerous districts, according to The Express Tribune.

The situation in KP remains critical, as the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast further rainfall, particularly in the upper regions of the province. In Buner, the Deputy Commissioner has declared flood emergencies in subdivisions such as Daggar, Gadezai, Gagra, Mandanr, and Chagharzai, where rescue teams are battling treacherous waters during their operations.

The disaster has taken a heavy toll on human life, with harrowing stories of survival and loss surfacing from the wreckage. A resident of Buner, Azizullah, expressed his fear, saying, “I heard a loud noise as if the mountain was sliding. I rushed outside and saw the entire area shaking. I thought it was doomsday.”

In the tribal district of Bajaur, a midnight cloudburst coupled with a lightning strike devastated the village of Jabrai in Salarzai tehsil, resulting in the destruction of four homes, claiming 21 lives and injuring five.

Bajaur Deputy Commissioner Shahid Ali confirmed the recovery of 19 bodies, while rescue efforts have faced severe challenges due to rapidly flowing water and landslides obstructing access for heavy machinery.

On the boundary of Mansehra-Battagram, a cloudburst over the village of Dheri Haleem Neelban in the Shimlai area led to one of the most catastrophic incidents, resulting in the death of over 25 people after lightning strikes and flash floods swept away 10 homes into the tumultuous Nandhar stream.

Reports indicate that 16 bodies, including women and children, have been retrieved from various locations along the stream, while search operations for the missing continue.