BATTAGRAM/LOWER DIR/SWABI: Two people died as floodwaters swept them away in Battagram and Lower Dir districts on Friday.
A woman drowned in a stream in Battagram as heavy rains caused flooding.
According to Rescue 1122 officials, an overflowing stream at Joze area swept away the woman, resulting in her death.
Rescue 1122 and civil defence teams recovered the body and handed it over to the deceased’s family.
Officials said heavy rainfall across the district led to flooding in streams and rivers. They urged residents to avoid going near streams and rivers.
Meanwhile, a 14-year-old boy died after drowning in the swollen Panjkora River in Saddu area of Lower Dir district on Friday. He was identified as Kaunain, a resident of Khazana area.
Residents said the boy had gone to the river for swimming when he was swept away by strong torrents.
People present on the occasion pulled him out of the river and alerted Rescue 1122 whose medical team provided cardiopulmonary resuscitation to him while shifting him to a hospital in an ambulance.
However, he was declared dead by the doctors on arrival in the hospital.
Rescue 1122 spokesman Abdul Rehman said 16 drowning incidents had been reported in the district during the ongoing monsoon season. He revealed the recovery of 13 bodies and said three people were rescued alive.
“Only one incident was related to flooding, while the remaining cases occurred largely due to carelessness as the people entered rivers or streams to bathe despite a ban,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yar Hussain and Doubain villages were inundated after heavy rains hit the Swabi district on Friday.
People said they’re shocked to see the houses, streets and neighbourhoods submerged in the floodwaters. Their families said the entire district was badly hit by torrential rains, which caused heavy losses on them.
During a visit to different areas, Dawn observed that Yar Hussainand Doubain Razaar tehsil were severely affected by the floodwaters.
The residents removed rainwater from their homes using buckets.
Mukhtiar Khan, former adviser to the chief minister from Yar Hussain, said that the entire village was submerged by floodwaters.
Alam Shah of Doubain said that the roads, streets, houses and fields in the area were inundated.
Deputy commissioner Dr Tariqullah visited the affected areas in Razaar tehsil and directed the relevant officials to ensure their presence in the field to monitor the situation.
Meanwhile, Rescue 1122 officials urged people to avoid unnecessarily crossing rivers, rainwaters and fast-flowing places during the rains.
Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2026
