Pakistan is reeling from the devastating impact of torrential rains and flash floods that have killed more than 300 people, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bearing the brunt of the disaster. Authorities confirmed that at least 307 lives have been lost since the monsoon downpours intensified earlier this week, overwhelming communities, sweeping away homes, and triggering deadly landslides.

Buner district has emerged as the worst-hit area, with 184 deaths reported, while Shangla district recorded 34 fatalities, largely from building collapses. Many remote mountain villages remain cut off as rising waters and landslides have damaged roads and bridges, hampering rescue operations. The disaster has also claimed the lives of five people in a rescue helicopter crash on Friday, when adverse weather forced the aircraft down.

Rescue operations are underway with both military and civilian teams involved in clearing roads, providing emergency medical aid, and evacuating stranded residents. Medical camps have been set up in several districts, while emergency funds have been mobilized to support affected families. Officials have declared multiple districts, including Buner, Shangla, Bajaur, Swat, Battagram, and Mansehra, as disaster zones.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned that heavy rains are likely to persist until August 21, raising fears of further flooding and landslides. Thousands of people have already been displaced, and hundreds of homes and public infrastructure have been destroyed.

This latest disaster highlights the growing vulnerability of Pakistan to extreme weather events during the monsoon season, particularly in its mountainous northwestern regions. Authorities are bracing for worsening conditions in the coming days as the country struggles to manage one of the deadliest flood episodes in recent years.