PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Aug 18 – Pakistan resumed rescue and relief operations on Monday in the country’s northwestern regions after a temporary suspension caused by severe weather. Continuous heavy rains since Friday have triggered devastating flash floods that have already claimed more than 300 lives and displaced thousands of families. Officials confirmed that the majority of deaths occurred in sudden surges of water, mudslides, and rockfalls that swept through mountainous terrain, destroying homes, vehicles, and infrastructure in their path.
The most tragic impact has been felt in Buner district, located about three and a half hours from Islamabad, where more than 200 people lost their lives. The devastation in Buner has been described as the worst in years. Local officials explained that the district was struck by a rare weather event known as a cloudburst, when more than 100 millimeters of rain falls within a single hour in a concentrated area. In this case, over 150 millimeters of rain fell on Friday morning, overwhelming the land and creating torrents of water that engulfed entire villages. Families were left stranded, homes collapsed, and belongings were washed away within minutes.
Survivors in Buner recounted the terrifying experience of seeing entire houses vanish under the force of the floodwaters. Vehicles were swept downstream as if they were toys, while farmland and livestock were destroyed in an instant. For many families, the floods not only claimed lives but also erased livelihoods, leaving them with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. In the immediate aftermath, survivors have been forced to live under makeshift shelters while waiting for assistance.
Relief operations faced serious challenges as heavy rain continued to fall on Monday, making it unsafe for rescue teams to proceed. Abid Wazir, a regional government officer, confirmed that teams were forced to suspend their work for several hours due to the dangerous conditions. He explained that their immediate focus now is to reopen blocked roads, set up temporary bridges, and ensure that relief reaches isolated communities. Helicopters and boats are being deployed to access remote areas, but the rugged mountainous terrain has made progress extremely slow.
Authorities have started to dispatch emergency goods to flood-affected areas, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirming that food, medicines, blankets, tents, and power generators are among the supplies being delivered. The National Disaster Management Authority reported that de-watering pumps have also been sent to drain stagnant water, which poses the risk of waterborne diseases. Relief agencies and volunteers are working alongside government teams to ensure the supplies reach families in need. Despite these efforts, officials acknowledged that the scale of the devastation has stretched resources thin.
This year’s monsoon season has proven especially destructive. Since late June, at least 657 people have died across Pakistan due to torrential rains and flooding, according to official figures. The meteorological department has warned that the current weather system remains active and could bring more heavy to very heavy rainfall across large parts of the country in the next 24 hours. Authorities fear that further rains could worsen the situation, particularly in districts where infrastructure has already been weakened.
The humanitarian crisis continues to grow as displaced families seek food, clean drinking water, and medical care. Health workers have raised alarms over the risk of outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and diarrhea, which often spread rapidly after major floods. Local non-government organizations are working alongside international charities to provide assistance, setting up temporary shelters in schools and community centers, and deploying medical teams to flood-hit zones. Volunteers have been playing a crucial role in providing first aid, distributing food, and helping families evacuate from vulnerable areas.
At the same time, questions are being raised about Pakistan’s preparedness for recurring natural disasters. Environmental experts argue that unchecked deforestation, unregulated construction in flood-prone regions, and poorly maintained drainage systems have increased the country’s vulnerability to flooding. Calls are growing for stronger disaster management strategies, improved early warning systems, and better long-term infrastructure planning to mitigate the risks of future monsoon-related catastrophes.
For residents of Buner and other affected districts, survival remains the immediate concern. Families mourning the loss of loved ones now face the added struggle of rebuilding their lives from scratch. One survivor standing by the ruins of his destroyed home expressed the despair of his community: “We have lost everything. We pray only that the rain stops so we can start again.”