The death toll from devastating monsoon floods and landslides in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir has risen to at least 307, according to provincial disaster management authorities. Most fatalities occurred in the mountainous province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where floodwaters destroyed homes, triggered landslides and washed away entire communities. At least 74 homes were badly damaged and a rescue operation turned tragic when a government helicopter crashed in poor weather conditions, killing all five crew members onboard.
Nine more people were confirmed dead in Azad Kashmir and five were killed in Gilgit-Baltistan. In the northwest, where several districts have been declared disaster zones, authorities warned that heavy rain is expected to continue until 21 August. In Buner, survivors described the floods as catastrophic. “I heard a loud noise as if the mountain was sliding. I rushed outside and saw the entire area shaking, like it was the end of the world,” said local resident Azizullah. “The ground was trembling due to the force of the water, and it felt like death was staring me in the face.”
In Bajaur, near the Afghan border, residents gathered around excavators searching through mud-soaked hillsides for survivors and bodies. Funeral prayers were held nearby, with grieving families laying their loved ones to rest under blankets in open fields. The chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, confirmed that the downed M-17 helicopter had been flying to Bajaur to deliver supplies and aid when it crashed in stormy conditions. The province has declared a day of mourning.
Across the border in Indian-administered Kashmir, at least 60 people were killed when a flood tore through a Himalayan village, sweeping away houses and burying dozens under rubble. Rescuers continued to pull bodies from mud and debris as heavy rainfall hampered operations.
Monsoon rains, which bring about three-quarters of South Asia’s annual rainfall between June and September, regularly cause deadly flooding. This year’s season has already proved particularly destructive. In July, Punjab recorded 73% more rainfall than last year and suffered more fatalities than in the entire previous monsoon. Scientists warn that climate change is intensifying weather extremes, making floods and landslides deadlier and more frequent.