At least 18 people have lost their lives and 19 others have been injured across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since July 19 after heavy rains and flash floods triggered roof and wall collapses and swept people away, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
The PDMA said the victims included seven men, eight children and three women, while the injured were 11 men, four women and four children.
Rain-related incidents were reported in Peshawar, Nowshera, Khyber, Mardan, Buner, Bajaur, Shangla, Swabi, Lower Chitral, Upper and Lower Dir, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Tor Ghar, Kurram, and North and South Waziristan.
The authority added that 30 houses were affected by the severe weather. Of these, 23 were partially damaged while seven were completely destroyed.
In Upper South Waziristan, four members of the same family died after the roof of their house collapsed during heavy rainfall. At the same time, flash floods caused widespread damage to farmland in low-lying areas of Lower South Waziristan.
The overnight downpour between Tuesday and Wednesday caused significant destruction across both districts.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Fazal Wadood said the incident took place in Bangi Wala village near Sararogha tehsil, where intense rainfall caused the roof of a room to collapse.
The deceased were identified as Sajid Mehsud, his wife, their son and daughter.
Rescue teams and district officials reached the area soon after the incident and launched relief work. Authorities assured the affected family of full support.
In Lower South Waziristan, overflowing seasonal streams eroded riverbanks and embankments, washing away large areas of agricultural land.
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Residents said flash floods during the monsoon season damage farmland every year, but the lack of permanent protective embankments continues to leave farmers vulnerable to heavy financial losses.
People in Upper South Waziristan urged the provincial government and the PDMA to provide immediate financial assistance and compensation to the bereaved family.
Residents of Lower South Waziristan also appealed to the provincial government and the Irrigation Department to build protective embankments along rivers and seasonal streams to prevent future erosion and protect farmland and livelihoods.
The district administration advised people to avoid unnecessary movement near seasonal streams and waterways and take precautionary measures, warning that more rainfall could lead to additional flooding in the coming days.
In Peshawar, rainwater entered Naseerullah Babar Teaching Hospital and flooded the women’s ward. Water reached patients’ stretchers, while hospital staff climbed onto chairs after becoming stranded.
Videos showing flooded hospital wards circulated widely on social media. The incident came just a day after another hospital in Peshawar was also affected by rainwater.
In Nowshera, floodwater entered Government Primary School No 2 in Taru Jabba, flooding classrooms and raising concerns that the ageing building could collapse.
Separately, Rescue 1122 said a tree fell near the livestock market on GT Road in Nasirpur due to heavy rain, blocking access to nearby homes. Rescue teams removed the tree and cleared the road. No injuries were reported.
The PDMA said Rescue 1122, district administrations and other departments were working together and continuing relief operations in the affected areas. It added that local authorities had been instructed to provide immediate relief supplies to affected families and speed up assistance efforts.
The authority said water levels in rivers and streams across the province remained within normal limits despite the ongoing rainfall.
It warned that intermittent heavy rain is expected to continue until July 23 and said all district administrations have been placed on alert.
The PDMA urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from vulnerable tourist destinations and follow official weather advisories. It also said its Emergency Operations Centre remains fully operational and advised citizens to contact its toll-free helpline 1700 in case of emergencies or for weather-related information.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned that heavy rainfall could trigger flash floods and landslides in the province’s mountainous areas through Thursday.
The Met Office said low-lying areas of Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Mardan and Swabi may experience urban flooding, while strong winds and lightning could damage electricity poles, solar panels and billboards.
Meanwhile, PESCO said power had been restored to 132 of the 148 feeders that tripped during the recent rains. Repair work on the remaining 12 feeders is ongoing, with electricity expected to be restored within the next few hours.