| Date | 26–29 June 2025 |
|---|---|
| Location | Northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan (notably Swat Valley) |
| Type | Flash flood, riverine flood |
| Cause | Heavy pre‑monsoon rains causing flash floods in mountainous terrain |
| Participants | Rescue 1122, NDMA, paramilitary and district administration |
| Deaths | 32–38 total:
|
| Missing | Several (including members of tourist families) |
| Inquiries | Provincial inquiry ordered by CM; four officials suspended |
| Multiple tourist families affected; viral rescue fails raised public outcry | |
The Northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa floods were a series of devastating flash floods triggered by heavy pre-monsoon rains in late June 2025, primarily affecting Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. The floods resulted in significant casualties, infrastructure damage, and widespread displacement, particularly in the Swat Valley. [1] The provincial government faced criticism for not responding quickly to rescue the stranded people.
Heavy and flash flooding in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a recurring annual calamity. The region experiences both monsoon-season (July–September) riverine floods and spring/summer flash floods triggered by intense localized rainfall and snow/glacial melt. [2] [3] [4]
From June 27 to 28, 2025, intense rainfall upstream caused the Swat River to rise rapidly, precipitating flash floods. Numerous tourist gatherings near the riverbanks were taken aback. [5]
Flash floods killed at least 32 people. [1] In 48 hours, 19 deaths occurred in KP, including 13 in Swat (6 men, 5 women, 8 children). [6] The victims included 18 members of the same extended family, a tourist group, of whom 12 bodies were recovered. [5] Other provincial rain-related deaths included 2 in Charsadda and 1 in Shangla, raising the death toll. [7]
Damages include 56 houses (50 partially, 6 destroyed) in various districts, including Swat, Abbottabad, Charsadda, Malakand, Shangla, Lower Dir, and Torghar. [6] [7]
Widespread landslides and flash floods also damaged roads and disrupted communities in mountainous regions. [8]
KP's Rescue 1122 deployed approximately 120 personnel across eight Swat locations; they rescued dozens; however, officials admitted high operational failures. [9]
An emergency flood control room was set up in Peshawar on orders from the Chief Minister KP Ali Amin Gandapur. [10]
Four senior Swat officials: Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Swat, Rescue 1122's district head, Zahidullah Khan, Tehsil Municipal Officer (TMO) of Khawazakhela and Assistant Commissioner (AC) Babuzai were suspended. [18] [19] Compensation of Rs 1.5 million announced for each victim’s family. Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shahab Ali Shah acknowledged a '45‑minute window' to act and termed the response lapse as turning a "small mistake into a major tragedy." [9]
Rescue 1122, along with drones and boats, conducted extensive efforts in Swat, Malakand, and Shangla, rescuing dozens and searching intensively for missing persons two days after the floods. [20] [21] [22]
Following the tragedy, KP authorities imposed a complete ban on riverbed mining and launched a crackdown on illegal hotels, resorts, and other encroachments along the Swat River. [23]
A three-member committee led by the Assistant Commissioner of Bahrain was established to identify and remove structures violating the KP River Protection Act (2014). [24]
{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)