Due to ongoing monsoon rains, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) government has issued a travel advisory for tourists from July 21 to 29. The tourism department has warned of possible flash floods, landslides, and rising river levels in popular tourist areas. People have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel during this time. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa flash flood advisory.
Dr. Abdul Samad, Secretary of Tourism, told Aaj News that despite repeated warnings, many tourists ignore advisories. He referred to a recent incident in Swat as a serious reminder. He urged all travelers to call 1422 before leaving for any destination to check the weather and road conditions. Just yesterday, a cloudburst on Saif-ul-Muluk Lake Road caused a landslide, blocking the road. Thankfully, over 500 stranded tourists were rescued by the Kaghan Development Authority.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), from June 25 to now, 63 people have lost their lives and 79 have been injured due to monsoon-related incidents. The deceased include 36 children, 11 women, and 16 men. The most casualties were reported in North Waziristan, Swat, Mardan, and Charsadda. Landslides have also completely damaged 45 houses and partially damaged 247. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa flash flood advisory.
A recent cloudburst in Naran caused flooding that trapped more than 500 tourists and 117 vehicles on the road to Lake Saif-ul-Muluk. All were safely rescued. The PDMA says the current spell of rain is expected to continue until July 31.
Both the Tourism Department and PDMA have strongly urged the public to follow safety instructions and stay away from riverbanks and dangerous areas to avoid further loss of life.
