Bajaur cloudburst and lightning kill 21, many missing

Cloud bursts, torrential rains, and flooding have resulted in significant destruction across Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, leading to at least 21 fatalities and numerous injuries.

A devastating cloudburst struck Bajaur around midnight, destroying several houses and burying many under debris. Locals immediately began rescue efforts, but the rapid water flow and rising levels hindered the use of heavy machinery. Rescue teams reached the site later in the night to assist. Deputy Commissioner Bajaur Shahid Ali confirmed that 21 bodies have been recovered so far, while three injured have been shifted to District Headquarters Hospital Khar. Search operations are ongoing, with at least seven people still missing. Eyewitnesses reported dangerously high water levels and blocked access routes, making rescue operations extremely challenging.

Tragedy also struck other regions hit by relentless rains. In the Khalthi Valley of Ghizer district, Gilgit-Baltistan, three people, including a woman, died in floods and landslides. In Diamer’s Bunar area, a young boy lost his life after being swept away by floodwaters. Azad Jammu and Kashmir has also been badly affected, with at least eight fatalities and two injuries reported due to floods and landslides. In one incident, a cloudburst in Muzaffarabad’s Naseerabad tehsil claimed the lives of six members of the same family.

Authorities and local volunteers are continuing rescue and relief operations in all affected areas despite challenging conditions. Roads remain blocked in several regions, hampering access to remote villages.