PESHAWAR- Heavy rainfall in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) triggered widespread destruction across multiple districts on Saturday, killing one person, injuring at least a dozen others, and prompting authorities to issue a flash flood alert due to the risk of rising water levels in rivers and streams.
Powerful storms and relentless hailstorms battered Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Haripur, Abbottabad, Buner, Rustam, Bara, Jamrud, and Landi Kotal, severely disrupting daily life. The downpour shattered car windows, flooded streets, and left many districts without electricity for hours.
Read More: Climate Change in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: A Growing Financial Concern
Lightning struck a boat on the Indus River in Swabi’s Hund area, killing boatman Iqbal Hussain and capsizing the vessel. Local residents rescued four passengers from drowning. In another incident, a lightning strike ignited a fire on a hilltop near Rustam in Mardan.
Six people sustained serious injuries when lightning hit a car in Nagi Ziarat Kali. The victims included Tahirullah, Daniyal, Asif, Ameenullah, and Mansoor. In Jangi, another six people suffered injuries when lightning bolts struck fields. In Mandani, strong winds toppled a mobile tower, disrupting communication and electricity supply.
The heavy rainfall in KP damaged wheat, tobacco, vegetable crops, and orchards in Charsadda, Tangi, Hund, Daultapura, and parts of North Hashtnagar. Meteorologists described the hailstorm as one of the heaviest in decades, attributing it to large-scale climatic shifts.
Water flooded homes in low-lying areas after nearby streams overflowed. Several houses sustained structural damage. Torrents knocked down trees and electricity poles in multiple areas, deepening the power crisis.
Streets in Peshawar and Nowshera turned white with thick layers of hail, reducing visibility and stranding vehicles. Rescue teams rushed to affected locations while district administrations advised citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and evacuate from vulnerable zones.
Read More: UN to Provide $1 Million for Climate Change-Affected KP Citizens
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued a high-alert flash flood warning, forecasting further heavy rainfall in KP until 20 April. Officials warned of possible flooding in the Kabul River and its tributaries, particularly in Kohistan, Swat, Dir, Malakand, and areas around Peshawar.
Meteorologists linked the extreme weather to a powerful western disturbance approaching northern Pakistan, urging authorities to prepare contingency plans and monitor vulnerable populations. The PDMA directed local administrations to identify at-risk communities and keep emergency services on high alert.Residents have been urged to stay informed of changing weather updates and contact Rescue 1122 or local emergency centres in case of any critical situation.
