PESHAWAR: Heavy monsoon rains triggered flash flooding across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province over the past 24 hours, killing at least 12 people and damaging homes in multiple districts, provincial disaster officials said, as authorities in Peshawar warned the wet weather could persist through Thursday due to an ongoing monsoon system affecting the region.
According to Pakistan’s Meteorological Department (PMD), Peshawar recorded 72 millimeters of rain in the past day, while Khyber district saw 71 millimeters. Other areas also reported significant rainfall, including Takht Bhai with 57 millimeters, Charat with 41 millimeters, and Kakul with 38 millimeters.
Forecasters said most districts should expect additional rain accompanied by thunder, with cloudy skies persisting across both plain and upland areas.
Peshawar’s temperature was recorded at 27 degrees Celsius, or 81 degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity at 82%. Temperatures elsewhere ranged from 21 C in Chitral, Dir, and Malam Jabba to 30 C in Dera Ismail Khan. In Peshawar, rainwater pooled in multiple parts of the city, creating significant hardship for residents, officials said.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said it is coordinating with Rescue 1122 and local district administrations to carry out relief operations, instructing authorities in affected districts to speed up aid delivery to those impacted. The agency noted that river and stream water levels across the province remain within normal range.
The storms also damaged 18 homes across the province, with 15 partially damaged and one destroyed entirely. Incidents were reported in Peshawar, Khyber, Mardan, Buner, Bajaur, Lower Chitral, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Torghar, and Kurram districts.
PDMA’s director general urged residents to avoid nonessential travel and steer clear of vulnerable tourist areas, while continuing to follow official government alerts.
