The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said on Saturday that work was underway to restore services in the flood-hit areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Buner, which has suffered the heaviest losses. Officials confirmed that cellular and fixed-line sites had been badly damaged by torrential rains, lightning and flash floods.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, at least 307 people have died in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Most of the casualties were reported in Buner, Battagram and Mansehra. Entire families were swept away or buried under collapsed houses, with Buner recording 213 deaths. In one incident, 22 members of the same family lost their lives when their house caved in at Chagharzai.
Rescue teams have set up medical camps in the worst-affected areas, but officials admitted that reaching remote villages remains difficult due to blocked roads and damaged bridges. Search operations are continuing in Battagram and Mansehra, where dozens were reported missing.
The KP government has declared a day of mourning, with the national flag flying at half-mast at government offices. The chief minister has allocated Rs500 million for relief work and is personally monitoring rescue efforts.
Flash floods and landslides have also caused destruction in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. In Skardu, a tourist was killed in a landslide, while several bridges, including the historic Surmon Steel Bridge, were washed away. In Muzaffarabad, more than 100,000 people remain cut off due to damaged roads.
Rising water levels have also been reported in Punjab and parts of KP, with officials placing districts on alert. Residents near rivers have been urged to move to safer areas as authorities continue rescue and relief operations.
The PTA stressed that restoring connectivity was vital to coordinate relief and keep affected families connected.