Torrential monsoon rains and cloudbursts have triggered flash floods, landslides and lightning strikes across north-western Pakistan, killing more than 300 people in 48 hours. The National Disaster Management Authority put the nationwide death toll at 344, while the Provincial Disaster Management Authority reported 313 dead and 156 injured in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone, the worst-hit region. Buner district has borne the brunt of the disaster, with local officials confirming more than 180 fatalities after torrents of water and boulders swept through villages such as Pir Baba and Malik Pura, flattening scores of homes. Rescue efforts have been slowed by washed-out roads and fresh landslides; a government MI-17 helicopter ferrying supplies crashed in bad weather on Friday, killing its five-member crew. Roughly 2,000 rescue workers, backed by Pakistani Army units, are searching for survivors and delivering relief in nine declared disaster zones, but authorities warn many victims may still lie beneath debris. Islamabad has activated a nationwide 911 helpline, released emergency funds and ordered the National Disaster Management Authority to coordinate with provincial teams. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government observed a day of mourning and lowered flags to half-mast. The Meteorological Department forecasts further heavy downpours through 21 August, prompting fresh travel advisories for mountainous areas. Officials say the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events have risen in recent years, compounding the vulnerability of communities that build homes near rivers and on unstable slopes.