Tragedy Unleashed: Devastating Floods Claim Over 500 Lives in Buner as Rescue Teams Battle Nature’s Fury! "Deeply disturbing ground reports of how thousands of people are under the rubble & the rocks. Heavy machinery needed for digging the victims out" Reham Khan.

 

August 18, 2025 – Torrential rains, cloudbursts, and flash floods have unleashed unprecedented destruction across northern Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, killing over 400 people and leaving scores missing. The catastrophic flooding, triggered by intense monsoon rains and glacial surges, has swept away homes, bridges, and entire villages, displacing thousands and prompting large-scale rescue operations.

Northern Pakistan: A Region in Crisis

In Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the death toll has climbed to at least 307, with Buner district alone reporting 184–213 fatalities, according to conflicting estimates from local officials and rescue teams. Entire villages in areas like Pir Baba, Gokand, and Chagharzi have been obliterated, with homes, markets, and even a police station submerged. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported 74 homes damaged, 11 completely destroyed, and 23 injuries in KP. A government helicopter carrying relief supplies crashed in Mohmand district, killing five crew members, further complicating rescue efforts.
Reham Khan wrote on x:"Deeply disturbing ground reports of how thousands of people are under the rubble & the rocks. Heavy machinery needed for digging the victims out. Dead bodies of women were a huge issue for volunteers as Muslim burials require certain rituals. May Allah make it easy for those whose entire families have been wiped out. Al Khidmat volunteer dies during the relief operation. May Allah grant him the highest place in Jannah."

In Gilgit-Baltistan, at least 12 people have died, with flash floods destroying crops, orchards, and infrastructure, including the Naltar Power Station, plunging Gilgit city into darkness. The Karakoram Highway remains blocked, severing links between Gilgit and Rawalpindi, while five bridges in Skardu collapsed. In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 19 deaths have been reported, with six suspension bridges washed away in Neelum Valley and over 700 tourists stranded near. 

The Pakistan Army, Rescue 1122, and local authorities are conducting round-the-clock operations, evacuating over 2,000 stranded individuals, including 1,300 tourists in KP. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered urgent relief efforts, while KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur pledged full compensation for losses. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warns of more rainfall from August 18–22, raising fears of further devastation in Chitral, Swat, and other northern areas. Ratti Gali Lake. Schools in AJK were closed on August 15 and 16 due to ongoing landslide risks.

Indian-Administered Jammu and Kashmir: Cloudburst Carnage.

Across the Line of Control in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, a cloudburst in Kishtwar district killed at least 60 people, with over 100 missing. The remote Himalayan village of Chositi was hit hardest, with local police and agencies searching for survivors buried under debris. In Kathua district, two separate cloudburst and landslide incidents claimed seven lives on August 17. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited Kishtwar, where 500 people are feared trapped. Rescue operations are ongoing, with hundreds displaced and infrastructure, including roads in Frislan and Batkoot, heavily damaged. 

Global Response and Climate Concerns

The scale of the disaster has drawn international condolences from Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, Turkiye, Kuwait, and Australia, with offers of humanitarian aid. Experts attribute the increasing frequency of such cloudbursts and flash floods in the Himalayan region to climate change, noting a 65% more intense monsoon season this year compared to 2024. The NDMA and Pakistan Meteorological Department have issued alerts for potential glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and landslides, urging residents to avoid vulnerable areas. 

A Region Reeling, Resilience Tested

As northern Pakistan and both parts of Jammu and Kashmir grapple with this tragedy, authorities face immense challenges in restoring access, providing relief, and preventing further loss of life. With more rain forecast, the region remains on edge, bracing for additional impacts while mourning the staggering human and material toll. 

Sources: The News, Dawn, Geo TV, Dunya News, Sky News, Daily Qudrat, The Independent, South China Morning Post, NDTV