- 307 confirmed dead in ongoing floods and landslides across Pakistan and Kashmir.
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province records the highest casualties.
- Military rescue helicopter crashes in bad weather, killing five crew members.
The ongoing monsoon crisis across Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir has taken a heavy toll, with the number of fatalities climbing to 307, according to disaster management authorities.
According to Eko Hot Blog, the most affected region is Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in north-west Pakistan, where most of the deaths were recorded. At least 74 homes have been damaged in the area. Tragedy struck further when a military rescue helicopter crashed during operations, claiming the lives of all five crew members on board.
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Additional casualties were confirmed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where nine people lost their lives, and five others died in the Gilgit-Baltistan region.
Officials have warned that the rainfall is expected to persist in the country’s northwest until at least August 21, prompting the declaration of disaster zones in several communities.
In Buner, a survivor recounted the terrifying moment the floodwaters surged. “It was as if the earth itself was collapsing. Everything shook and trembled I thought we had reached the end,” said a local resident, Azizullah.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister, Ali Amin Gandapur, confirmed the helicopter crash was weather-related. The chopper had been en route to Bajaur, a region near the Afghan border. Images from the scene showed locals gathered around excavators digging through mud as funeral rites were held for victims nearby.
Authorities in the province have announced a day of mourning to honour those lost.
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Meanwhile, in Indian-administered Kashmir, the situation remains equally dire. Rescuers on Friday recovered bodies from the debris of a Himalayan village struck by flash floods. At least 60 lives have been confirmed lost, with more still unaccounted for.
This monsoon season which typically spans June to September has brought extraordinary levels of rainfall. In Punjab, the most populous region of Pakistan, July saw 73% more rainfall than last year and a higher death toll than the entire previous monsoon season.
