NARAN; Rescue operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mansehra district successfully evacuated 160 tourists stranded in the popular tourist destination of Naran after flash floods inundated the area on Wednesday. According to a Rescue 1122 spokesperson, the flooding was triggered by intense monsoon rains that swept through Naran, Jalkhad, Barwai, and Besar.
Amir Khadam Khan, spokesperson for Rescue 1122 in Mansehra, said teams had to cross a flooded stream on foot near Besar to reach those stranded. “All individuals were safely evacuated and provided temporary shelter in nearby hotels,” he confirmed.
The rescue operation also involved recovering vehicles belonging to the trapped tourists. The Naran Road, a key route connecting the region, had been blocked at multiple points due to flooding and debris. However, after a 12-hour operation, the National Highway Authority, supported by local police and the Kaghan Development Authority, managed to reopen the road for traffic.
Khadam reported that rescue teams administered first aid to several individuals suffering from minor injuries, fatigue, vomiting, and hypoglycemia. Thankfully, no serious casualties occurred during the incident.
Meanwhile, the monsoon rains, which are essential for agriculture and water resources, have caused devastation in several parts of the country. The rainy season, stretching from June to September, often leads to floods, landslides, and significant displacement—especially in vulnerable and poorly planned urban and rural areas.
In a separate tragic incident, two young girls aged between two and three were killed when their house collapsed due to heavy rain in Bakot, Abbottabad, early Wednesday morning. Abbottabad police spokesperson Azam Khan confirmed that the children’s bodies were retrieved by local residents.
This comes on the heels of a massive rescue effort last week in which 250 tourists and travelers were evacuated from Babusar Highway by a joint operation involving the Diamer district administration, Rescue 1122, the army, and police forces.
However, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported a sobering update: since the onset of monsoon season in late June, the nationwide death toll has risen to 234. Among the deceased are 79 men, 42 women, and 113 children, making children nearly half of the total fatalities.
In another incident in Punjab’s Attock district, four people drowned and a child went missing after a seven-seater BRV van plunged into a rain-swollen drain in Jharika, Tehsil Hassan Abdal. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday at around 2:46am. District Emergency Officer Ali Hussain confirmed that five passengers were rescued and transported to the local hospital, while a search was ongoing for the missing child, identified as Mustafa.
These incidents highlight the growing threat posed by extreme weather events in Pakistan, where climate change, inadequate infrastructure, and unregulated development contribute to recurring seasonal disasters. Authorities have issued urban flooding warnings for several cities as monsoon rains continue to batter the country, emphasizing the need for greater preparedness and resilient infrastructure.
