Swabi cloudburst leaves 15 dead, several injured amid new monsoon spell

Swabi (Web Desk): At least 15 people died and several others injured after a cloudburst triggered flash floods in Darwandi area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa’s (KP) Swabi district.

A powerful new spell of the monsoon season has begun to wreak havoc across the country, with several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) currently experiencing relentless heavy rainfall.

In the Darwandi area of Swabi, a cloudburst triggered flash floods, resulting in a tragic loss of life. At least fifteen people have died in various incidents caused by the sudden deluge, while several others have sustained injuries. Local authorities fear that the death toll could rise as rescue efforts continue.

According to the police and district administration, torrential rains have lashed the Swabi tehsils of Razar, Lahore, and Topi, causing floodwater to inundate homes.

The situation became so dire that many residents were forced to seek refuge on rooftops to escape the rising waters. Rescue personnel have managed to safely evacuate more than seventy individuals from the affected areas, preventing further loss of life.

Swabi Deputy Commissioner Nasrullah Khan confirmed that the cloudburst submerged dozens of houses and led to multiple landslides in different regions. Emergency response teams, local administration units, and other departments are actively engaged in relief and rescue operations.

Additional teams have also been called in from Haripur and Mardan to assist with the ongoing crisis.
Meanwhile, in the Pabbi tehsil of Nowshera, a dilapidated house collapsed due to the rain, killing a husband and wife. In Peshawar, heavy downpours caused storm drains to overflow, flooding key areas such as University Road, Kohat Road, Qissa Khwani Bazaar, and Saddar Market.

The effects of the monsoon rains have been felt across a wider region. Swat, Abbottabad, Haripur, and their surrounding areas have seen rivers and streams swell beyond capacity, with severe flooding cutting off road access. The Karakoram Highway and several other vital routes have been closed, while bridges on Railway Road, Kakol Road, and over the Lora stream have been washed away, severing ground connectivity to multiple localities.

Parts of Punjab have also suffered from flooding, with low-lying areas in Multan, Murree, Chakwal, Kallar Kahar, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Vehari submerged under rainwater. Streets in these cities have turned into ponds, disrupting daily life.

In Karachi, sporadic rainfall ranging from light to heavy showers has brought a noticeable drop in temperature, making the weather more pleasant.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued warnings of further cloudbursts in several regions, including the Hazara Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and various parts of Punjab. Citizens have been strongly advised to stay away from riverbanks and tourist spots until the situation stabilizes.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), this current monsoon spell is expected to persist until August 23, with at least two more spells anticipated in the coming days.