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Heavy monsoon rains and flash floods have claimed 32 people across Pakistan so far, including 16 children, officials from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) confirmed on Saturday.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 19 people died in the past 48 hours alone, with six men, five women, and eight children among the victims.
The PDMA reported these incidents across Swat, Abbottabad, Malakand, Lower Dir, Shangla, Charsadda, and Torghar districts.
Swat was the worst hit, where 13 people lost their lives. Among them were 10 tourists from the same family, visiting from Punjab, who died in a tragic flash flood incident on June 27.
They had just finished breakfast and were standing on a dune in the river when a sudden wave swept them away one by one. No rescue operation reached them in time.
In Punjab province, at least 13 people have died since Wednesday. Eight were children, killed when rooftops and walls collapsed during heavy rainfall, according to the Punjab Disaster Management Authority.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned that heavy rains and flash floods may continue until July 1, raising further concerns for already affected areas.
In a press conference, Information Minister Atta Tarar criticized KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur over the Swat incident. He questioned why the CM’s helicopter was not used for rescue.
He blamed PTI’s governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) for negligence, saying that despite 12 years in power, they failed to build proper relief systems or buy disaster rescue equipment.
The NDMA has urged all provincial authorities to stay alert and strengthen emergency responses. Tourist areas like Swat need extra focus during the ongoing monsoon season.
