Rescue 1122 teams safely evacuated 160 tourists trapped in Naran, Mansehra district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, after flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains, a spokesperson said on Wednesday.
According to the official, the tourists were stranded in Naran, Jalkhad, Barwai, and Besar when flooding cut off several routes. “Rescue 1122 personnel crossed the flood drain near Besar on foot to reach the stranded tourists and vehicles. All were evacuated and accommodated in nearby hotels,” said Amir Khadam Khan, the Mansehra Rescue 1122 spokesperson.
He added that the Naran Road was blocked in several areas but reopened for traffic after a 12-hour clearance operation led by the National Highway Authority, with support from police and the Kaghan Development Authority. Rescue teams also provided first aid to several tourists suffering from minor injuries, fatigue, and dehydration. No serious casualties were reported.
Meanwhile, heavy rains also caused a house collapse in Abbottabad’s Bakot area, killing two girls aged between two and three years, police confirmed.
Pakistan continues to face the brunt of the monsoon season, which runs from June to September. While essential for agriculture, the rains often lead to widespread flooding, landslides, and displacement. Last week, more than 250 tourists were rescued from Babusar Highway, while the National Disaster Management Authority reported that monsoon-related casualties across the country have risen to 234 since late June — nearly half of them children.
