4 children die as flash floods wreak havoc again in Swat

SWAT: At least four children lost their lives on Monday as flash floods, triggered by heavy monsoon rains, caused widespread destruction in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swat district.

Torrential rains led to landslides and powerful flood currents across various areas of the district, resulting in the deaths of four children and leaving one child missing. Rescue efforts are currently underway to locate the missing child.

In the remote Shanko area of Madyan, a landslide struck a house, killing three children and injuring their mother. In the Sodher area of Malam Jabba, two children were swept away by flash floods. One of them, a 7-year-old boy, was confirmed dead, while the other remains missing.

Rainfall continues intermittently in the upper regions, prompting residents of low-lying areas along the Swat River to begin evacuating due to rising water levels.

Local residents criticised authorities, claiming that no prior flood warning or alert was issued by the administration.

Meanwhile, at least three tourists have been confirmed dead and 15 are reported missing on Monday following severe landslides and flash flooding triggered by a cloudburst at Babusar Top, a mountainous pass in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The cloudburst caused intense flooding and landslides across a 7 to 8-kilometre stretch around Babusar Top, blocking roads at 14 to 15 different locations.

Over 15 vehicles have been swept away by the floodwaters. Rescue teams have recovered three bodies from the floodwaters, and efforts are ongoing to retrieve vehicles buried under the debris after the landsliding. Tourists stranded in various locations have been relocated to safer areas.