Torrential rains have caused severe damage in the upper regions of Pakistan, destroying the Mahandri Bridge and leaving numerous tourists stranded in Kaghan Valley.
The Meteorological Department has warned about possible flooding in several areas, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, northeastern Punjab, upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Koh-e-Sulaiman, and nearby hills of Balochistan.
The heavy rains have heavily impacted various districts in K-P and Gilgit-Baltistan, damaging infrastructure and isolating local communities.
In Kaghan Valley, the destruction of the Mahandri Bridge has cut off a vital transportation link, effectively blocking access to Naran and other parts of the valley.
This has stranded around 10,000 to 15,000 tourists and disrupted the daily lives of residents.
The Kaghan Development Authority (KDA) announced that lodging and food will be free to tourists.
Tourists, who visited the valley for its cool weather and breathtaking views, now find themselves stranded, confined to hotels and guesthouses with dwindling supplies or seeking refuge in temporary shelters set up by local authorities.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has advised tourists to avoid unnecessary travel due to landslides, washed-away bridges, and potential flash floods.
In Lower Dir, heavy rain has caused the Maidan River to flood at Balambat in Timergara. Swabi has experienced sporadic rains, with water entering homes in Sharifabad, where rescue teams are working to remove it.
In Kotha, a house roof collapsed, burying two cattle, and rescue operations are underway. Chitral and Lower Dir have experienced severe flooding in multiple areas, causing significant damage to homes, gardens, and farmland, and disrupting vehicular traffic.
Similar flooding has been reported in the rivers of Koghuzi, Shishi Koh, and Kalash Valley in Lower Chitral.
In a tragic incident, 11 family members were killed when floodwater entered their basement. Persistent rain in Muzaffarabad, Neelum, and Jhelum valleys has created pleasant weather but also led to road closures, especially on the highway connecting Muzaffarabad to Rawalpindi at Kohala.
The Meteorological Department forecasts continued rain for the next day.
In Harnai and surrounding areas, heavy rains have led to floods in rivers and canals, halting traffic on the Harnai-Quetta highway.
A high-level flood relay in the Zardalu River has damaged nearby agricultural lands. Khyber district and its suburbs have experienced intermittent rain, resulting in lower temperatures and increased water flow in rivers and canals.
In Swat, the rains have caused flooding in the upper areas of Kalam, washing away a temporary land passage and severing connections with the upper regions.
Heavy machinery has been deployed to restore the passage. All departments, including the NHA, have been instructed to stay alert, with measures being taken to keep roads open in Swat, Kalam, and other tourist destinations.
