The death toll from flash floods in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has risen to 321 in the past 48 hours, provincial disaster authorities confirmed on Saturday.

Torrential rain and cloudbursts triggered devastating floods across several districts, with Buner recording the highest toll of 184 deaths. Other casualties were reported in Shangla (36), Mansehra (23), Swat (22), Bajaur (21), Battagram (15), Lower Dir (5) and Abbottabad. “I rushed outside after hearing a loud noise, and the whole area was shaking as if it was the end of the world,” Azizullah from Buner district told AFP. “The ground trembled as the floodwaters roared. I thought it was doomsday.”

In Bajaur, villagers gathered around excavators digging through mud and rubble, while funeral prayers were held nearby for flood victims. Survivors reported sleepless nights as families searched desperately for missing relatives.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), many areas remain cut off while rescue operations continue. The death toll could rise further as several people are still missing. Around 2,000 rescue workers have been deployed across nine affected districts.

Since late June, heavy rain has unleashed widespread destruction in Pakistan’s northern and northwestern regions, causing floods, landslides, and mass displacement. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been among the hardest-hit provinces due to its mountainous terrain and vulnerable settlements.

Authorities continue to assess damage while warning that densely populated and poorly drained areas remain at risk as the monsoon season continues.  
(With inputs from AFP and PTI)