PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) administration has confirmed that a government MI-17 helicopter went down while delivering aid to Salarzai in Bajaur, resulting in the deaths of all five crew members onboard.
Officials stated that communication was lost due to adverse weather conditions while the helicopter was flying over Mohmand district’s airspace. The crash led to the martyrdom of the entire crew. KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur announced that every effort was made to re-establish contact prior to confirmation of the crash, and rescue teams were dispatched immediately on his orders.
He also mentioned that the province’s second government helicopter is currently involved in ongoing rescue efforts in Buner.Earlier, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported that heavy rains and flash floods over the past day have resulted in 43 fatalities and left 14 people injured across various parts of KP. The deceased include two women and eight children, while the injured comprise 11 men, two women, and one child.
The PDMA further reported that 30 homes have been damaged—25 partially and five completely destroyed. Fatalities were recorded in districts such as Swat, Buner, Bajaur, Torghar, Mansehra, Shangla, and Battagram, with Bajaur and Battagram identified as the worst-affected regions.Rescue and relief operations continue in the impacted areas, with teams from PDMA, local authorities, and volunteers working tirelessly to assist affected residents. The authorities have warned that the ongoing heavy rainfall may persist until August 21, potentially worsening flood conditions in vulnerable districts.
Residents have appealed for faster rescue efforts and urgent shelter provisions for those rendered homeless. In Mansehra, thunderstorms and a cloudburst triggered flooding, causing additional casualties and property damage.In Swat, particularly in Mingora, Malam Jabba, Haji Baba, Khwazakhela, and Marghazar, low-lying areas have been inundated, submerging hundreds of homes and blocking access to several localities. Many residents, including women and children, have sought refuge on rooftops, while some are evacuating independently amid the deteriorating situation.