Buner floods shatter wedding plans, 24 family members dead

Just two days before his wedding, Noor Muhammad spoke to his mother on a long phone call, only hours before deadly floods in Pakistan claimed her life along with 23 other family members and relatives.

He spoke to his mother on the phone hours before she, along with his siblings, uncles, grandfather, and other relatives, perished when their 36-room family home collapsed under the force of the flood. His father and one brother survived only because they had gone to pick him up from Islamabad airport. The flash floods began after record-breaking monsoon rains and cloudbursts struck the mountainous northwest, sweeping away homes, markets, and infrastructure. Officials confirmed that at least 776 people have died across the country since late June, with more than 25000 rescued. Buner alone has accounted for over 200 deaths, while many more remain missing.

Authorities have linked the unusual intensity of the rains to climate change, warning that extreme weather events are likely to increase in the coming years. Residents described the disaster as unprecedented, with floodwaters carrying heavy rocks and mud that flattened entire villages. Rescue and relief operations are ongoing, with the army and air force joining efforts to evacuate stranded people and recover bodies. Emergency teams continue to warn residents to stay alert as more rain is expected, with two additional monsoon spells predicted before September 10.

The tragedy has left survivors mourning and questioning preparedness measures, as officials scramble to restore access and provide aid to thousands displaced by the disaster. The scale of destruction highlights the urgent need for stronger flood management and climate resilience across the country.