Severe floods and landslides in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir have claimed at least 307 lives, with the death toll rising rapidly.
Most casualties have been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a mountainous province in northwestern Pakistan. Authorities confirmed that 74 homes have been damaged. A rescue helicopter crashed during operations, killing five crew members. In Kashmir under Pakistani administration, nine people died, while five others perished in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region.
One survivor from Buner, Azizullah, described the floods as “the last day of the world.” He said: “I heard a loud noise as if the mountain was sliding. I ran outside and saw the whole area shaking, as if it were the end of the world.” He added: “The ground trembled because of the force of the water, and I felt as if death was staring me in the face.”
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said the M-17 helicopter crashed due to bad weather while flying to Bajaur, a border region with Afghanistan.
In Indian-administered Kashmir, floods in the Himalayas have killed at least 60 people, with rescue teams recovering bodies from mud and debris.
Heavy rainfall is expected to continue in northwestern Pakistan until August 21, with several areas declared disaster zones. Experts warn that climate change is intensifying extreme weather, making such events more frequent and severe.
