Cloudburst Triggers Deadly Landslide in Remote Pakistani Village, Nine Killed, Dozens Missing

Rescue efforts continued through the night in the remote village of Dalori, northwestern Pakistan, after a sudden cloudburst triggered massive landslides that destroyed homes and left nine people dead, with at least 20 others feared trapped under rubble.

In the darkness, villagers and rescuers worked by the dim light of their mobile phones, using hammers, shovels, and even their bare hands to dig through the remains of flattened houses. The disaster struck in minutes late Monday when a torrent of water, boulders, and mud swept down from the mountains, demolishing at least 15 houses and damaging several others.

“A huge bang came from the top of the mountain, and then dark smoke billowed into the sky,” said Lal Khan, a 46-year-old laborer. “A massive surge of water gushed down with the sliding mountain.” He later watched rescuers recover the bodies of his neighbor and her four children from beneath the rubble.

The disaster follows days of intense monsoon rains that have battered Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing more than 350 people and leaving around 200 still missing. Authorities have warned that further flash floods and landslides are likely in the coming days as heavy rains persist across northern Pakistan.

Villagers described the scene as apocalyptic. “It was not the water that struck first, but a massive amount of rocks and stones that smashed into the houses,” said resident Gul Hazir. “It was like an apocalyptic movie. I still can’t believe what I saw.”

Local officials said poor planning worsened the destruction. Many homes in Dalori had been built directly in the stream bed, leaving no route for water to escape when the cloudburst struck. “It is immensely challenging to carry out operations here, as heavy machinery cannot pass through the narrow alleys,” said Usman Khan, a local administration officer.

Rescue operations have been hampered by the destruction of the only road leading into the valley, which was washed away at several points. Gravel, debris, and collapsed homes have blocked paths, leaving residents isolated. Despite the obstacles, excavators were deployed to clear drainage channels and recover bodies.

For survivors, the tragedy is overwhelming. Student Saqib Ghani, who lost his father, clawed through rubble with his bare hands before rescuers pulled him back. “We are absolutely helpless. We don’t have the means to tackle this calamity,” said Khan, echoing the despair felt across the village.

Dalori buried five of its dead on Tuesday as grieving women wept in dark homes without electricity. Cattle roamed the narrow alleys unattended, while residents tried to salvage what little remained.

“I will not live here anymore,” said one woman, draped in a shawl, as she followed a coffin down the devastated street. Just days earlier, villagers had collected money to aid flood victims in neighboring regions. “We didn’t know we would be needing help ourselves,” said Hazir.