A powerful cloudburst, accompanied by flash floods and lightning, struck remote villages in Swabi district on Monday morning, killing at least 25 people and injuring 35 others, according to local officials.
The worst-hit areas include Dalori Bala and Sarkoi Payan in the Gadoon Amazai region, where dozens of houses collapsed under the force of floodwaters, trapping residents beneath debris.
Deputy Commissioner Swabi, Nasrullah Khan, confirmed the rising death toll. “In Dalori Bala alone, 20 people have died, including women, children, and the elderly. At last report, ten bodies and six injured were recovered,” he said.
In Sarkoi Payan, two women and their children died when their homes collapsed. A woman visiting from Faisalabad also perished with her child. In Colonel Sher Khan Kalay, a young man named Talha was swept away by the floods.
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The floods destroyed crops, livestock, and property, while landslides blocked key roads across Gadoon Amazai, hampering rescue operations. Electricity and mobile networks were also disrupted.
Rescue teams, supported by the Pakistan Army, have been deployed on foot where roads remain impassable. Two army helicopters were dispatched to assist evacuations, while residents also joined rescue efforts.
Topi Tehsil Chairman Haji Rahim Jadoon and other local officials reached the affected areas. The floods also damaged houses, vehicles, and the causeway linking Marghaz and Zeeda.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur directed immediate relief operations, ordering all available resources and rescue teams to be rushed to the scene. “Emergency measures are needed to save lives,” he said in a statement.
PDMA Confirms 341 Deaths Across K-P
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Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed that heavy rains and flash floods across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have so far killed 341 people and injured 178.
According to PDMA figures, the fatalities include 292 men, 28 women, and 21 children. A total of 420 homes have been damaged, with 139 destroyed. Bunir remains the hardest-hit district, recording 222 deaths, while Swabi has reported 11 deaths and 20 injuries in addition to Monday’s tragedy.
Other affected districts include Swat, Bajaur, Mansehra, Shangla, Lower Dir, and Battagram.
“These extreme weather events have severely impacted communities, leaving many displaced and in urgent need of assistance,” a PDMA spokesperson said.
Authorities said relief operations are underway across the province, with rescue teams deployed to provide food, shelter, and medical support to survivors.
