PESHAWAR – The federal government, acting on the directives of the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, imposed a ban on tourism in flood-hit mountainous regions after devastating floods in KP claimed more than 310 lives and left hundreds injured.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) also urged citizens to avoid travelling to affected areas, warning that conditions remain dangerous. NDMA officials said westerly winds have entered Pakistan, creating the possibility of further cloudbursts. “From Sunday, rainfall is expected to intensify across most parts of the country,” the authority stated.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department also forecast heavy downpours nationwide, heightening fears that floods in KP and other provinces may worsen in the coming days.
Eight districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported severe flooding after days of torrential rain. In Swat, 13 schools sustained damage, disrupting classes for hundreds of children.
In Buner’s Pir Baba area, a cloudburst triggered flash floods that submerged homes, shops, and schools, leaving streets coated in mud. Local reports suggested that nearly half of the area’s population had been affected.
Authorities confirmed that funeral prayers were offered for 190 victims in Buner alone. Residents said many people remain missing, with families still searching for loved ones believed to be swept away by the floods in KP.
Relief and rescue operations are underway in the hardest-hit areas. Emergency teams, backed by the army, distributed food, medicines, and tents to displaced families. The NDMA also dispatched medical camps, ambulances, and health teams to flood-stricken zones.
Officials warned that the death toll and damage could increase if forecast rains intensify. Local communities meanwhile appealed for urgent help, saying survivors face shortages of food, clean water, and shelter.
