ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has been placed on high alert as the first spell of the 2026 monsoon triggered deadly flash floods, lightning strikes, and landslides across the province, prompting authorities to activate round-the-clock emergency operations amid growing risks of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast that the current monsoon system will remain active through the coming week, bringing widespread rain, windstorms and thunderstorms to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and upper Punjab.
In a statement, PMD Director General Dr Muhammad Afzal said rainfall is expected to remain well above normal across the country's northern mountainous regions.
“The forecast shows below-normal rainfall for parts of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, rainfall in the northern areas, Gilgit-Baltistan and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is expected to remain above normal,” he said.
The PMD said isolated moderate-to-heavy rainfall is likely to continue over the northern regions in the coming days, before expanding into parts of Punjab early next week. Although the weather system is expected to weaken slightly by mid-July, upper KP and the northern mountains will remain vulnerable to rain and thunderstorms.
In another statement, PMD's National Forecasting Centre Director Muhammad Irfan Virk said the monsoon arrived during the first week of July as moisture-laden winds from the Bay of Bengal interacted with a western weather system, producing intense downpours, flash floods and lightning across the province.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and Rescue 1122 have mobilized emergency teams across vulnerable districts after torrential rains over the past 48 hours killed nine people, injured 23 others and damaged dozens of homes and public infrastructure.
The weather poses a dual threat in northern KP, where persistent rainfall coincides with high temperatures, accelerating glacier melt.
GLOF warning
The PDMA has issued a GLOF alert for Upper and Lower Chitral, Swat, Upper Dir, Kohistan and Mansehra, warning that rapidly melting glaciers could trigger sudden glacial lake outburst floods, flash floods in mountain streams and landslides.
While northern districts face flooding, authorities warned that below-normal rainfall in parts of the agricultural plains could increase water stress for Kharif crops. Sudden hailstorms and dust storms also pose a risk to standing crops and solar infrastructure.
According to PDMA, the latest spell of severe weather has affected several districts, including Khyber, Lower Dir, Mardan, Shangla, Bajaur, Upper and Lower Chitral, and Upper Dir.
The heavy rains have also damaged 41 houses, including 37 partially damaged and 4 completely destroyed. Two mosques, two shops and a bridge were also damaged by flooding and landslides.
Livestock losses have been significant, with 163 animals reported dead, including 138 in Lower Chitral, one of the worst-affected districts.
Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, PDMA spokesperson Anwar Shehzad said district administrations have been instructed to closely monitor rivers, streams and glacial areas vulnerable to flooding.
“Heavy machinery, Rescue 1122 teams and emergency personnel have been pre-positioned to ensure a rapid response to road blockages, flash floods and other emergencies,” he said.
Relief operations continue
Shehzad said rescue and relief operations are underway across affected districts, with teams from PDMA, Rescue 1122 and local administrations providing assistance to affected communities.
“Blocked roads in Lower Chitral have already been reopened for traffic, while emergency relief is being distributed to affected families,” he added.
The PDMA's Emergency Operations Centre is operating round the clock, coordinating with district authorities and other departments to expedite rescue and relief efforts.
Authorities have urged residents and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel near rivers, streams and mountainous areas prone to flooding and landslides. The public has also been advised to stay updated on weather alerts and report emergencies through the PDMA's toll-free helpline, 1700.
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