2025 Pakistan floods

2025 Pakistan floods

Date	June 2025 - ongoing
Location	Northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Azad Kashmir, Pakistan
Type	Flash flood, riverine flood
Cause	Heavy pre‑monsoon rains causing flash floods in mountainous terrain Climate change
Participants	Rescue 1122, NDMA, Alkhidmat, paramilitary and district administration and NGOs
Deaths	800+
Non-fatal injuries	965+
Missing	209+
Inquiries	Provincial inquiry ordered by CM; four officials suspended
Multiple tourist families affected; viral rescue fails raised public outcry

The 2025 Pakistan floods are a series of devastating flash floods triggered by heavy pre-monsoon rains since 2025, primarily affecting Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan provinces. The floods resulted in significant casualties, infrastructure damage, and widespread displacement, particularly in the Swat Valley. ^[1] The provincial governments and the Pakistan Armed Forces, civil armed forces as well as rescue and organizations have responded quickly to rescue the stranded people. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Background

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. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

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. ^{[8] [9] [10]}

Impact

Fatalities and injuries

Flash floods killed 706 people and injured 965 others since 26 June. ^[11] At least 123 deaths occurred in Punjab Province. ^[12] At least 344 fatalities occurred from 14-16 August, including 328 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. ^[13] In Buner District, 274 people died and 209 others were missing. ^{[14] [15]} Additionally, 428 livestock were also killed, including 54 in Sindh. ^{[16] [17]} The victims included 18 members of the same extended family, a tourist group, of whom 12 bodies were recovered. ^[8] Other provincial rain-related deaths included two in Charsadda and one in Shangla. ^[18] in Karachi, Sindh, 10 people were killed in August 2025. ^{[19] [20]}

Damages

Damages include 1,676 buildings, including 562 that were completely destroyed, in various districts including Swat, Abbottabad, Charsadda, Malakand, Shangla, Lower Dir, and Torghar. ^{[16] [21] [18]}

Widespread landslides and flash floods also damaged roads and disrupted communities in mountainous regions. ^[22]

Rescue and response

Emergency operations

KP's Rescue 1122 deployed approximately 120 personnel across eight Swat locations; they rescued dozens; however, officials admitted high operational failures. ^[23]

An emergency flood control room was set up in Peshawar on orders from the Chief Minister KP Ali Amin Gandapur. ^[24]

As many as 1,594 people have been rescued across Pakistan in flood and rain emergencies. ^[25]

Helicopter crash

2025 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa helicopter crash

AP-BIL, the aircraft involved in the accident, pictured in 2011
Accident
Date	15 August 2025 (2025-08-15)
Summary	Crashed during bad weather; under investigation
Site	Pandiyali, Mohmand District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Total fatalities	5
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Mil Mi-17
Operator	Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Registration	AP-BIL
Flight origin	Peshawar
Destination	Bajaur District
Occupants	5
Passengers	3
Crew	2
Fatalities	5
Survivors	0

On August 15, a Mil Mi-17 operated by the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa crashed in bad weather while carrying relief goods to rain-affected areas of Bajaur District, killing at least five people including Lt Col (R) Shahid Sultan, Gp Capt (R) Aftab Iqbal, Hon Capt (R) Saleem Iqbal, Hav (R) Muhammad Jabbar and Hav (R) Muktiar Ali. The aircraft lost contact while en route over Mohmand District. A day of mourning was announced. ^{[26] [27]}

Criticism

From federal and Punjab provincial governments

• Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari slammed KP's handling of recovered bodies, stating that transporting them in garbage dumpers was 'deeply disrespectful." She, along with the Punjab Assembly, called for CM Gandapur's moral resignation. ^{[28] [29]}
• Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described the incident as a "governance failure," questioning why stronger leadership actions weren’t taken; KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi echoed calls for Gandapur's resignation due to this "shameful failure". ^{[30] [31] [32]}

by public and activists

• Social media footage of stranded tourists pleading for rescue stirred public anger over the absence of helicopters and the delayed response. ^[33]

• While some defended limitations of KP's resources, others pointed out that the absence of provincial helicopters caused critical delays. ^[34]

Aftermath

Government accountability

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. ^{[35] [36]} 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." ^[23]

President Zardri call out for world support for Pakstian. ^[37]

Rescue and relief

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. ^{[38] [39] [40] [41] [42]}

Crackdown on encroachment

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. ^[43]

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). ^[44]

See also

• Pakistan portal
• Weather portal

• 2025 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa flash floods
• Weather of 2025
• 2025 Kishtwar district flash flood, nearby weather event in India around the same time

References

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