KP govt chopper crash kills all five on board; governor calls for working together; CM Gandapur announces day of mourning tomorrow
At least 194 people have died and dozens more have been injured in Pakistan's northern areas after cloudbursts and heavy rains triggered flash floods and landslides, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Friday.
The dead include 180 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), five in Gilgit Baltistan (GB), and nine in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), with deaths expected to rise as the situation remains volatile.
The NDMA confirmed that 158 of the victims were male, 19 female, and 17 children. Another 28 people have been injured nationwide, while 116 houses have been damaged — 34 partially and 14 fully in KP, 14 partially and three fully in GB, and 23 partially and 28 fully in AJK.
Police and rescue personnel watch on as floods cause devastation in KP, on August 15, 2025. — Geo News
Police and rescue personnel watch on as floods cause devastation in KP, on August 15, 2025. — Geo News
People being shifted to safe places in police trucks after flooding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Buner, on August 15, 2025. — X@GovernmentKP
People being shifted to safe places in police trucks after flooding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Buner, on August 15, 2025. — X@GovernmentKP
People stranded as floods wipe away roads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on August 15, 2025. — Geo News
People stranded as floods wipe away roads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on August 15, 2025. — Geo News
District administration clears roads after landsliding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Shangla District, on August 15, 2025. — X@GovernmentKP
District administration clears roads after landsliding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Shangla District, on August 15, 2025. — X@GovernmentKP
Pakistan Army personnel rescue children after flooding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on August 15, 2025. — Geo News
Pakistan Army personnel rescue children after flooding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on August 15, 2025. — Geo News
Rescue officials shift tourists to a safe place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Siran, on August 15, 2025. — X@GovernmentKP
Rescue officials shift tourists to a safe place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Siran, on August 15, 2025. — X@GovernmentKP
Rescue officials shift tourists to a safe place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Siran, on August 15, 2025. — X@GovernmentKP
Rescue officials shift tourists to a safe place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Siran, on August 15, 2025. — X@GovernmentKP
Police and rescue personnel watch on as floods cause devastation in KP, on August 15, 2025. — Geo News
Police and rescue personnel watch on as floods cause devastation in KP, on August 15, 2025. — Geo News
People being shifted to safe places in police trucks after flooding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Buner, on August 15, 2025. — X@GovernmentKP
People being shifted to safe places in police trucks after flooding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Buner, on August 15, 2025. — X@GovernmentKP
Apart from several homes being swept away in the devastation, communications in multiple areas have been cut off. Officials reported that mobile phone towers were damaged, leaving flood-hit regions isolated.
A KP government helicopter carrying relief supplies to Bajaur’s Salarzai area crashed due to bad weather while flying over Mohmand district, killing five people on board, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur's spokesperson, Faraz Mughal, said. Another helicopter is engaged in rescue operations in Buner.
KP CM Gandapur directed that emergency teams be dispatched immediately to affected areas. He announced that a day of mourning will be observed tomorrow.
In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed the NDMA to conduct comprehensive relief operations in flood-affected areas of AJK and KP, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, said.
Electricity supply in Swat has been crippled after floodwaters entered the 132KV grid station, suspending power on 41 feeders, according to the Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (PESCO).
Sixteen poles supplying Malam Jabba were washed away, while numerous other poles and transformers were damaged across the district.
Fallen trees on transmission lines have worsened outages. PESCO has deployed extra staff on an emergency basis and set up a control room to monitor the situation.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, whose party governs KP, warned that the death toll could rise in Buner. “Entire villages have been wiped out, roads are gone, and infrastructure is destroyed,” he said.
A state of emergency has been declared in Buner, with hospitals on high alert. “Our focus is on search and rescue operations, but helicopters will be essential to reach several locations,” he added, stressing that “this is not a time for politics.”
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi urged unity, saying: “We must work together to save lives.”
He confirmed that mobile towers and other communications infrastructure had been damaged by floods and landslides, further isolating communities.
“The federal government stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the province,” he added.
The Pakistan Army’s flood relief operation is under way, with efforts focused on flood-hit districts of Swat and Bajaur.
Army teams are moving residents from affected areas to safe locations, while in Bajaur, people are being rescued by helicopter. Food supplies and medicines are also being delivered to the affected areas by air.
Destruction in GB, AJK
In AJK’s Neelum Valley, floodwaters washed away six suspension bridges, while in Muzaffarabad, a cloudburst killed eight people, including six members of the same family.
Landslides and flood damage have blocked multiple sections of the Kohala and Neelum highways, cutting off road access to parts of the valley. Tourists remain stranded at the Ratti Gali base camp after the road was swept away in several places.
The AJK government also announced the closure of public and private schools on August 15 and 16 owing to continued heavy rains and the risk of landslides.
In GB, flash floods have destroyed crops, orchards, homes, bridges, and water channels. Flash floods also ravaged Ghizer’s Yasin Thoi, damaging houses, schools, water tanks, and agricultural land.
Landslides disrupted travel on the Baltistan and Sadpara roads, while Thor in Diamer reported severe destruction. The Astore valley wasn’t spared either. Floods also damaged agricultural land and roads in the area.
The Karakoram Highway remains blocked, severing land links between Gilgit and Rawalpindi. Several valleys in Diamer and Skardu have been cut off, with power stations shut down after the Sadpara Dam’s water channel was swept away.
GB government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq said that relief and search operations are underway despite challenging weather conditions.
“This is a testing time for Gilgit-Baltistan,” said Faraq. “The government is mobilising all available resources to assist the affected communities.”
The GB government has imposed emergency measures in several areas, directing the GB Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) and Rescue 1122 to remain on high alert.
Across the Line of Control, in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and ideasforeurope Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, a cloudburst and subsequent flash flooding killed at least 56 people, with more than 100 reported missing.
Officials fear the toll could rise. A large number of Hindu pilgrims were present in the affected area when the disaster struck.
PM orders comprehensive flood relief operations
Minister Tarar said that the prime minister is fully informed about the flood situation and is continuously issuing directives to ensure effective relief efforts.
He said Prime Minister Shehbaz has directed NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider to maintain close coordination with the governments of KP and AJK to accelerate relief operations.
Tarar added that a special cell has been established at the Prime Minister’s Office to maintain round-the-clock communication with NDMA.
The information minister noted that during the recent spell of rains and flooding, Prime Minister Shehbaz sardararticle personally visited the NDMA multiple times to review rescue and relief measures.
The minister emphasised that the government’s primary focus remains on rescue and relief efforts. He said all relevant institutions are deploying available resources to support ongoing operations across KP.
He also mentioned reports of nearly 40 individuals missing in the province and assured that steps are being taken to protect human lives.
Tarar further highlighted that NDMA’s early warning system is regularly updating all provincial governments, including KP. He said NDMA’s Command and Control Center is fully operational 24/7 and is closely monitoring the evolving situation.
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