At least six people, including three Afghan nationals, were killed after torrential rains triggered flash floods in Khyber district’s Landi Kotal and surrounding areas, rescue officials said on Monday. The fatalities came as heavy rains continued to batter northern parts of Pakistan, swelling rivers and streams, disrupting traffic, and prompting authorities to issue flash flood and landslide warnings across several mountainous regions. According to Rescue 1122 Khyber, emergency teams recovered the bodies from flood-hit areas and shifted them to hospitals for legal formalities before handing them over to their families. Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Faizi said three Afghan nationals died after being swept away by a flash flood near Sultan Khel Market on the Pakistan-Afghanistan Highway. Another victim was identified as Farhan, son of Rasim Gul, a resident of Jabba Jamrud. Two other victims, identified as Abuzar, son of Imran, and Saifullah, son of Arafat, both residents of Sadokhel in Landi Kotal, also lost their lives after being swept away by floodwaters. Several other people were injured in separate rain-related incidents and were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment. The heavy rainfall also damaged multiple link roads in and around Landi Kotal. Mud houses and boundary walls of more than 10 homes either collapsed or suffered partial damage, while rescue teams continued relief operations in affected areas. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast widespread rain accompanied by thunderstorms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, Islamabad, upper and central Punjab, and Gilgit-Baltistan, while hot and humid weather is expected to persist in southern parts of the country. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a flash flood alert for the mountainous regions of Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The authority warned that accelerated glacier melting could continue until July 25, increasing water flows in rivers and streams and raising the risk of flash floods. The NDMA has also warned of possible flooding and landslides in Hunza, Nagar, Skardu, Shigar, Astore and Diamer, while Upper and Lower Chitral and adjoining areas have been declared highly vulnerable. Authorities have urged residents and travellers to avoid unnecessary movement in flood-prone areas and follow official advisories as rain continues across the northern regions.
Six killed as flash floods wreak havoc in Khyber amid torrential rains
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