Peshawar, KPK – August 18, 2025 – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is battling its worst flood disaster in five years after record-breaking monsoon rains submerged vast swathes of the province. The KPK Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirms 87 fatalities, with over 15,000 displaced as raging floodwaters sweep away homes, bridges, and farmland.
Critical Updates (as of 18 August 2025):
- Death Toll: 87 killed (including 32 children) across Swat, Dera Ismail Khan, Nowshera, and Charsadda.
- Infrastructure Collapse: 1,200+ homes destroyed; key highways (Indus Highway, Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway) severely damaged.
- Rescue Operations: Pakistan Army deployed 5 helicopter teams to evacuate stranded families in Kohistan and Upper Dir.
- Disease Outbreak Threat: Standing floodwaters spark fears of cholera and dengue epidemics in relief camps.
Eyewitness Accounts:
“The water rose so fast, we barely escaped with our lives,” said Saima Bibi, a mother of three in Nowshera. “Now we’re drinking contaminated water—no medicine, no food.”
Government Actions:
- State of Emergency: KPK Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur announces PKR 1 billion relief package.
- NDMA Warning: Flood alerts issued for River Kabul and River Swat, urging downstream evacuations.
- International Aid: UNICEF and Red Crescent dispatch emergency teams with water purification units.
Weather Forecast:
- Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicts 72 more hours of heavy rain in Malakand and Hazara.
- Risk of Glacial Lake Outbursts (GLOFs): High alert in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral.
How to Help:
- Donate: KPK Flood Relief Fund (gov.pk/floodaid-2025)
- Volunteer: Contact PDMA Helpline 1700 or Al-Khidmat Foundation.
Asian Citizen News is tracking this developing crisis. Refresh for live updates.
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