Heavy rains, floods kill dozens in Pakistan and Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD/KABUL: Heavy rains and flash flooding across parts of Pakistan’s northwest and in Afghanistan have killed dozens of people, collapsed buildings and disrupted daily life, authorities said on Monday, as unstable weather continues to batter the region.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, torrential downpours triggered roof and wall collapses and other rain-related incidents that claimed multiple lives over the weekend and into Monday, local officials and rescue sources said.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported at least 17 people were killed and dozens injured after heavy rain since March 25 caused structural failures in homes and other buildings across several districts.

Rainfall was recorded in Bannu, Swat, Hangu, Nowshera, Tank, Bajaur, Karak, Parachinar, Malakand as well as North and South Waziristan, with several fatalities in Abbottabad and other areas from collapsing roofs and walls.

In Bannu district alone, earlier reports indicated at least six people were killed and more than 30 injured as rain wreaked havoc, while other districts also saw casualties.

Across the border in Afghanistan, heavy rain and flooding have killed at least 22 people and injured more than 30 others over the past two days, the country’s National Disaster Management Authority  said.

The severe weather triggered flash floods and caused buildings to collapse in several provinces, with authorities warning of continued unstable conditions.

The flooding has also damaged homes, roads and infrastructure in multiple regions, compounding humanitarian challenges in a country already vulnerable to natural disasters.

Emergency responders in both countries have been stretched by the widespread impact of the storms, with rescue operations ongoing in affected areas and officials urging residents to avoid flood-prone zones as more rain is forecast.

The latest fatalities add to a growing toll from extreme weather across South Asia this season, underscoring the risks posed by intense rainfall and inadequate infrastructure in mountainous and flood-susceptible regions.