15 killed in D.I. Khan, AJK as Monsoon Rains’ fury continues across country

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is reeling under the wrath of torrential rains as 15 more people lost their lives and dozens were injured in a series of rain-related tragedies.

A death toll swept through the city in Dera Ismail Khan, killing eight, injuring 47 and destroying entire neighborhoods. Strong winds uprooted trees, tore off roofs and crushed infrastructure.

The injured were shifted to hospital in the middle of the night and rescue operations were ongoing till morning.

Heavy rains wreaked havoc in Poonch division in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, killing six people, including women. The scale of the damage is staggering: 129 houses completely flattened, 600 damaged, 24 shops wiped out, 40 animals killed, four vehicles swept away, and 60 km of roads washed away.

One person died and two were seriously injured when the roof of a fragile house collapsed in Takht Bhai. Rescue teams rushed the injured to hospital.

A landslide in the Kaghan Valley blocked the access to the world-famous Lake Saif-ul-Muluk, trapping more than 150 tourists. Heavy machinery was deployed overnight, and all were safely rescued, although fear gripped the valley.

The KPPDMA issued a flood alert after the Meteorological Department predicted heavy rains. Rivers and streams are likely to flood in Chitral, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan and Abbottabad, while low-lying areas of Peshawar, Nowshera and Mardan may face urban flooding. Landslides in mountainous areas could disrupt road access to remote settlements.

At least seven people were killed and dozens injured in Khan, Tohan and heavy rains in D.I. caused roofs to collapse, trees toppled and power lines to fall. Emergency services and hospitals have been put on high alert, where rescue and power restoration efforts are underway.

The Islamabad administration has also closed several hiking trails in the Margalla Hills for public safety. Heavy rains are expected in northeastern Punjab, Kashmir, Murree, Galiyat areas and Dera Ghazi Khan, increasing the risk of overflowing waterways and waterlogging in low-lying areas.