Two children were killed and several others injured after torrential rain, lightning strikes, and flash floods battered parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with widespread damage to homes, mosques, shops, and bridges reported in Lower and Upper Chitral. Rescue teams from the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Rescue 1122, and other relevant agencies are conducting search, rescue, and relief operations in the affected areas.
Lightning Strike at Women's Madrassa Injures 22 Students
In a separate incident, 22 female students were injured after lightning struck a women's madrassa in Rangoon village of Osorai Dara in Upper Dir district. According to officials, around 260 students were present at the seminary when the incident occurred. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.
PDMA Preliminary Report Details Casualties and Damage
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority has released a preliminary report detailing the casualties and damage caused by overnight heavy rainfall, lightning, and flash floods across the province. According to the report, two children were killed and three others injured when lightning struck the Zakhakhel area of Bara in Khyber district. The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
Flash Floods in Lower and Upper Chitral
In Lower Chitral, torrential rain and a cloudburst triggered flash floods, damaging 27 houses. The floodwaters also affected two mosques, two shops, and a bridge. The PDMA said four vehicles and several motorcycles were also damaged, adding that authorities are continuing to assess the full extent of the losses. In Yarkhun, Mastuj, in Upper Chitral, flash floods damaged a house, several drinking water supply schemes, and irrigation canals. No casualties were reported, and relief assistance has been provided to the affected families.
Roads Reopened, Emergency Operations Ongoing
The authority further stated that two roads in Lower Chitral, which had been closed due to flash flooding, have now been reopened for traffic. The PDMA said its teams, along with Rescue 1122 and other emergency responders, remain engaged in search-and-rescue operations and relief activities across the affected districts. It added that its Emergency Operations Centre is fully operational, maintaining constant coordination with district administrations while closely monitoring the evolving situation.
Continued Rainfall and Hailstorms in Mountainous Districts
Meanwhile, intermittent heavy rain, accompanied by hailstorms in some areas, continued in the mountainous districts of Abbottabad, Swat, Shangla, and Bajaur. Heavy rainfall in Bisham, Puran, and other plains of Shangla brought relief from the intense heat, while cool winds in the upper and mountainous regions made the weather pleasant. Residents welcomed the noticeable drop in temperatures following the rain.
District Administration Advises Caution
The district administration has advised residents to exercise caution as continuous rainfall has significantly increased water levels in rivers and seasonal streams. In Swat and the adjoining areas of Mingora, torrential rain caused a sharp rise in water levels in streams and waterways, while rainfall continued in the upper tourist destinations of Malam Jabba, Kalam, and surrounding areas.
