At least six people, including two children, were killed and several others injured in a series of rain-related incidents in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province as heavy monsoon showers continued to trigger flash floods and other weather-related emergencies, rescue officials said on Monday.
The incidents were reported in different parts of the province amid an ongoing spell of intense rainfall. Authorities have warned residents to remain cautious as swollen water channels and sudden flash floods pose a serious threat in mountainous and low-lying areas.
In the first incident, four people were killed and nine others injured after a passenger wagon was swept away by a flash flood in the Landi Kotal area of Khyber district on Sunday night, an official from emergency service Rescue 1122 said.
According to the official, the vehicle was caught in rapidly rising floodwaters during the heavy rainfall. The sudden flow of water swept the passenger wagon away, leaving several people trapped and prompting an immediate search and rescue operation.
Rescue 1,122 teams rushed to the area and launched an extensive operation to locate those missing after the incident. Local volunteers also joined the rescue effort and assisted emergency personnel in searching the surrounding areas.
The rescue teams eventually recovered all four bodies from different locations, the official said. The bodies were found after a prolonged search operation in the aftermath of the flash flood. The injured victims were also rescued and shifted to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers posed by flash floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in areas with rugged terrain and limited access to emergency services. Sudden cloudbursts and heavy rainfall can cause water levels to rise rapidly, leaving little time for residents and travellers to move to safer locations.
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In another rain-related incident in the province, two children were killed, while several other people sustained injuries, officials said. Details of the incident were still being compiled by authorities.
The latest casualties come as Pakistan continues to experience a strong monsoon spell, with heavy rainfall reported in several regions. The weather conditions have disrupted normal life in parts of the country and raised concerns over further flooding and damage to roads and other infrastructure.
Rescue officials have urged people living in vulnerable areas to remain alert and avoid crossing flooded streams, rivers and water channels during periods of heavy rainfall. They have also advised residents to follow warnings issued by local authorities and emergency services.
Authorities are monitoring the situation in the affected districts and rescue teams remain on standby to respond to further emergencies. Officials said the possibility of additional rain-related incidents cannot be ruled out as the monsoon activity continues.
The latest deaths have renewed concerns over the vulnerability of communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to extreme weather events. Rescue agencies and local administrations are expected to strengthen emergency preparedness and response measures as the rainfall continues across the province.
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