2025 Pakistan floods
| Date | June–July 2025 |
|---|---|
| Location | Northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Azad Kashmir, Pakistan |
| Type | Flash flood, riverine flood |
| Cause | Heavy pre‑monsoon rains causing flash floods in mountainous terrain Climate change |
| Participants | Rescue 1122, NDMA, paramilitary and district administration |
| Deaths | 300+ |
| Non-fatal injuries | 700+ |
| Missing | Several |
| Inquiries | Provincial inquiry ordered by CM; four officials suspended |
| Multiple tourist families affected; viral rescue fails raised public outcry | |
The 2025 Pakistan floods were a series of devastating flash floods triggered by heavy pre-monsoon rains in June and July 2025, primarily affecting Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The floods resulted in significant casualties, infrastructure damage, and widespread displacement, particularly in the Swat Valley.[1] The provincial government faced criticism for not responding quickly to rescue the stranded people.[2]
Background
[edit]Heavy and flash flooding in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a recurring annual calamity. The region experiences both monsoon-season (July–September) riverine floods and spring/summer flash floods triggered by intense localized rainfall and snow/glacial melt.[3][4][5]
From June 27 to 28, 2025, intense rainfall upstream caused the Swat River to rise rapidly, precipitating flash floods. Numerous tourist gatherings near the riverbanks were taken aback.[6]
Impact
[edit]Fatalities and injuries
[edit]Flash floods killed more than 300 people, including 140 children and over 123 people in Punjab, and injured more than 700 others, including 462 in Punjab.[7][8][9] Additionally, 428 livestock were also killed, including 54 in Sindh.[9][10] In 48 hours, 19 deaths occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including 13 in Swat, 6 men, 5 women, 8 children.[11] The victims included 18 members of the same extended family, a tourist group, of whom 12 bodies were recovered.[6] Other provincial rain-related deaths included two in Charsadda and one in Shangla, raising the death toll.[12]
Damages
[edit]Damages include 1,676 buildings, including 562 that were completely destroyed, in various districts including Swat, Abbottabad, Charsadda, Malakand, Shangla, Lower Dir, and Torghar.[9][11][12]
Widespread landslides and flash floods also damaged roads and disrupted communities in mountainous regions.[13]
Rescue and response
[edit]Emergency operations
[edit]KP's Rescue 1122 deployed approximately 120 personnel across eight Swat locations; they rescued dozens; however, officials admitted high operational failures.[14]
An emergency flood control room was set up in Peshawar on orders from the Chief Minister KP Ali Amin Gandapur.[15]
As many as 1,594 people have been rescued across Pakistan in flood and rain emergencies.[16]
Criticism
[edit]From Punjab & Federal Government
[edit]- Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari slammed KP's handling of recovered bodies, stating that transporting them in garbage dumpers was 'deeply disrespectful." She, along with the Punjab Assembly, called for CM Gandapur's moral resignation.[17][18]
- Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described the incident as a "governance failure," questioning why stronger leadership actions weren’t taken; KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi echoed calls for Gandapur's resignation due to this "shameful failure".[19][20][21]
by Public and activists
[edit]- Social media footage of stranded tourists pleading for rescue stirred public anger over the absence of helicopters and the delayed response.[22]
- While some defended limitations of KP's resources, others pointed out that the absence of provincial helicopters caused critical delays.[23]
Aftermath
[edit]Government accountability
[edit]Four senior Swat officials: Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Swat, Rescue 1122's district head, Zahidullah Khan, Tehsil Municipal Officer (TMO) of Khawazakhela and Assistant Commissioner (AC) Babuzai were suspended.[24][25] Compensation of Rs 1.5 million announced for each victim’s family. Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shahab Ali Shah acknowledged a '45‑minute window' to act and termed the response lapse as turning a "small mistake into a major tragedy."[14]
Rescue and relief
[edit]Rescue 1122, along with drones and boats, conducted extensive efforts in Swat, Malakand, and Shangla, rescuing dozens and searching intensively for missing persons two days after the floods.[26][27][28]
Crackdown on encroachment
[edit]Following the tragedy, KP authorities imposed a complete ban on riverbed mining and launched a crackdown on illegal hotels, resorts, and other encroachments along the Swat River.[29]
A three-member committee led by the Assistant Commissioner of Bahrain was established to identify and remove structures violating the KP River Protection Act (2014).[30]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ Baloch, Shah Meer (June 28, 2025). "At least 32 people killed as flash floods hit northern Pakistan". The Guardian.
- ^ Baloch, Shah Meer (2025-06-28). "At least 32 people killed as flash floods hit northern Pakistan". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-07-02.
- ^ "Tarar assails KP administration as 11 bodies recovered from Swat River".
- ^ "Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa govt blind to inundation threat". 15 November 2024.
- ^ "Heavy rains in northwestern Pakistan kill 8 people, mostly children, and injure 12". Associated Press News. 30 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Flash floods in Pakistan kill 8 after deluge sweeps away dozens". AP News. June 27, 2025.
- ^ "Rescuers call off search for 11 people presumed dead in Pakistan floods". Associated Press. August 4, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ "Pakistan: Over 123 killed, 462 injured in Punjab province during record torrential rains". AP7AM. July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
- ^ a b c "At least 299 dead including 140 children in Pakistan floods". Asian News International. August 4, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ "Days of monsoon rains kill 79 as Pakistan braces for more floods". Arab News. July 8, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ a b "Rains and floods kill 19 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 12 in Punjab as extreme weather hits Pakistan". Arab News. June 28, 2025.
- ^ a b Report, Dawn (June 29, 2025). "Floods, heavy rains kill 32 in two days". DAWN.COM.
- ^ "Several killed as flash floods sweep away dozens of people in Pakistan". Al Jazeera.
- ^ a b "Flash Flood in Swat: KP Govt Admits Failures as Death Toll Rises". Pashto News and Current Affairs Channel | Khyber News. June 28, 2025.
- ^ "Flood situation due to ongoing rains in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. An emergency flood control room was established in the Chief Minister's Secretariat Peshawar on the instructions of Chief Minister".
- ^ "Pakistan monsoon toll rises: 11 more dead in Punjab; nationwide deaths cross 180". The Telegraph (India). July 19, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ^ "Punjab minister slams KP govt for sending Swat bodies in 'garbage truck'".
- ^ "Swat tragedy reveals negligence, apathy and poor governance: Azma".
- ^ "Tarar blames Gandapur for Swat tragedy".
- ^ "Attaullah Tarar Blames PTI's Failed System for Swat River Tragedy".
- ^ "Swat tragedy marks death of PTI's 12-year governance in KPK: Atta Tarar".
- ^ "Public anger erupts after rescue fails stranded Swat tourists".
- ^ "Swat residents protest deaths in flooded river".
- ^ "DC Swat removed, four officials suspended".
- ^ https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/kp-govt-suspends-adc-two-acs-district-rescu-2004272.html
- ^ https://radio.gov.pk/29-06-2025/search-operation-underway-to-find-people-swept-away-in-flood-in-swat
- ^ "Fatalities reach 11 in Swat River incident".
- ^ "Rescuers search for three missing persons 24 hours after flash floods in Pakistan's Swat".
- ^ "Anti-encroachment drive underway to restore flow of Swat River".
- ^ "Illegal construction on river beds intensified flash flood in KP". 30 October 2022.
