Peshawar/ Lahore: Pakistan is reeling under one of the deadliest monsoon seasons in recent memory, with relentless rains and surging floodwaters inundating vast swathes of the country.
At least 657 people have died and more than 920 injured since June 26 across the country, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), as cloudbursts, flash floods, house collapses and lightning strikes continue to batter communities.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) remains the worst-hit province, where remote mountainous districts such as Buner have become the epicentre of tragedy.
Meanwhile, the search is still on for many of those missing as Rescue 1122 officials a day earlier said they had recovered 373 bodies from the flood-hit areas across KP with majority of them from Buner district.
“The Rescue 1122 has recovered 373 bodies from all the flood-hit districts of the province till Sunday while rescue and search operation was still underway,” spokesperson for Rescue 1122 Bilal Ahmad Faizi told The News.
Meanwhile, fresh rains gripped parts of the country on Monday, compounding the misery of millions. In Mardan, heavy showers drenched the city and its outskirts, while Nowshera recorded thunderous rainfall across different localities.
Swabi saw rainwater swamp low-lying areas, entering homes and shops. In Swat’s Mingora, torrential downpours paralysed daily life, while nearby Malakand also recorded significant rainfall.
In Buner, relief operations faced major hurdles, with volunteers struggling to reach affected villages as a makeshift bridge connecting a cut-off settlement risked collapse.
Parachinar witnessed flash floods that swelled streams and the Kurram River, damaging roads and embankments. Officials confirmed no casualties but said restoration work was underway.
In Nowshera’s Chakki Mamrez area, tragedy struck when a room roof caved in during the downpour, killing a husband and wife.
The provincial capital Peshawar faced severe urban flooding after intermittent rain since Sunday night. Overflowing drains inundated Saddar Bazaar, University Road, Bara Road, Gulbahar, Kotla Mohsin Khan, Phando, Zaryab Colony, Gulberg, Fakirabad, Pajjagi Road, Hayatabad and Shaheedabad.
Streets turned into rivers, paralysing traffic and submerging vehicles, while water also entered the Western Police Station and numerous houses.
In Punjab, persistent downpours lashed Multan, Kabirwala, Jhang and Khushab, bringing both relief from heat and flooding in low-lying areas.
In Chakwal, heavy rainfall was measured at Wahali Zair (25mm), Choa Saidan Shah (67mm), Lillandi (11mm) and Kusk (35mm). Bhakkar and Miani reported inundated neighbourhoods after continuous rainfall.
Quetta and parts of Balochistan remained cloudy and humid, with the Met Office predicting rain in Zhob, Musakhail, Mastung, Loralai, Kohlu, Kalat, Barkhan and Sibi, and scattered showers in Dera Bugti, Nasirabad, Khuzdar, Awaran, Ormara, Pasni and Lasbela. In Azad Kashmir, thunderstorms lashed Dhirkot and various parts of Poonch division.
