PESHAWAR: The seventh spell of monsoon has wreaked havoc in the upper reaches of the country. So far, 204 people have lost their lives and many are missing in various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to cloudbursts, landslides and flash floods, while several houses have collapsed.
Due to the recent rains and to deal with the flood situation, a flood emergency has been imposed in Buner district.
The Meteorological Department has predicted that the current series of heavy rains is likely to continue intermittently until August 21.
According to the Chief Secretary KP, a government helicopter of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government that was sent for relief went missing from Bajaur, and contact with the government helicopter was lost in the area of Hamand district.
The Chief Secretary says that the helicopter attempted a crash landing due to weather conditions, for which a search is underway.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
According to the PDMA, 204 people have died and 33 are still missing due to landslides and flash floods in Bajaur district and other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The PDMA has issued a preliminary report on the loss of life and property in various districts of the province due to the rains and flash floods that occurred during the last 24 hours.
According to the PDMA spokesperson, 205 people have died so far in various accidents due to the rains and flash floods that occurred during the last 24 hours, while 33 are missing and 15 have been injured.
The dead include 128 men, 9 women and 13 children, while the injured include 12 men, 2 women and 1 child.
According to the report so far, a total of 35 houses have been damaged due to the rains and flash floods. In which 28 houses were partially destroyed and 7 houses were completely destroyed.
The accidents occurred in different districts of the province, Swat, Buner, Bajaur, Torghar, Mansehra, Shangla and Battagram. The most affected districts due to heavy rains and flash floods are Bajaur and Battagram, where rescue operations are still ongoing.
The PDMA had already sent a letter to all district administrations to take precautionary measures in view of the weather conditions.
The PDMA has been directed to intensify relief activities in all affected districts and provide immediate relief to the victims. All relevant agencies have been directed to utilize all resources to restore the closed highways and connection roads at tourist spots.
Buner
According to the DC Buner, there is a severe flood situation in Pir Baba and other areas, due to which citizens are waiting for help on the roofs of their houses.
The Deputy Commissioner, while imposing emergency in different areas, confirmed the death of 92 people in the district.
The DC said that the way the youth risked their lives to save the lives of a family from Punjab in Buner Pir Baba is unparalleled.
He said that there is a fear of damage due to torrential rains, a part of Pir Baba Bazaar and a neighborhood are submerged in water, people have been shifted to safer places.
A mosque was martyred in the Gokand area, while a large number of livestock were also killed, while the Pir Baba Police Station was also submerged in floodwater.
Teams dispatched for rescue operations in Buner
On the instructions of Director General Rescue Muhammad Tayyab Abdullah and District Emergency Officer Ghayur Mushtaq Khan, teams of Rescue 1122 Peshawar were dispatched to participate in the ongoing rescue operations in Buner.
More than 40 trained rescuers and 10 ambulances led by Station House Incharge Zeeshan Kan were dispatched to the affected areas where they will likely participate in search and rescue, medical assistance and evacuation operations.
Bajaur
The control room of Rescue 1122 Bajaur received information about several people being injured in a flash flood due to heavy rain (cloud burst) in Jabrarai village of Tehsil Salarzai.
As soon as the information was received, Rescue 1122 Bajaur immediately dispatched disaster, medical and diving teams to the scene.
Deputy Commissioner Bajaur Shahid Ali said that 21 people died due to cloud burst and lightning in Tehsil Salarzai of Bajaur, out of which 18 bodies were recovered while the search for 3 people is underway, 3 were injured in the incident.
He said that children and women were also among the deceased, 4 houses were destroyed in the accident, however, rescue activities are ongoing.
The DC further said that the roads were blocked due to landslides, which were crossed on foot. Rescue teams are engaged in rescue operations using heavy machinery. Frontier Corps North helicoptered tents and other essential items for the victims, which was welcomed by the public.
The funeral prayers of those killed in the accident were offered. The funeral was attended by Member of Provincial Assembly Anwar Zeb Khan, Deputy Commissioner Bajaur Shahid Ali, Assistant Commissioner Khar Dr. Sadiq Ali, tribal elders and local people.
According to the DC, 3 people injured in the accident were shifted to Khar Hospital, 2 injured were discharged from the hospital after treatment, while one injured person was shifted to Peshawar in critical condition.
Due to heavy rain in Tehsil Maidan Suri, the roof of a residential house suddenly collapsed. 7 people buried under the debris were rescued, out of whom 3 died and 4 were injured.
Meanwhile, three laborers belonging to Deir ez-Zor were trapped between two drains due to flash flood at Munawar Bela in Mahandri area of Balakot.
The three men, Naveedullah, Sajjad and Ayan Khan, were returning from work on a turbine when they were hit by the flash flood. Rescue personnel took timely action and saved the three alive.
Flood in Swat
Heavy rains caused flooding in Swat, which also affected the Malam Jabba Road.
According to the Deputy Commissioner Swat, a 400-meter section of the Malam Jabba Road was washed away in the flash flood at Gul Mira. Tourists should avoid traveling on the Malam Jabba Road until further notice.
Flood in Mingora Khor While flood water entered houses and shops, the flow of the Swat River will also increase.
The areas of Makanbagh and Malababa were flooded, forcing people to evacuate their buildings.
After flooding in Mingora Khor, Hazara Khor, Khwaza Khela and other places, the district administration has alerted the relevant agencies.
According to the district administration, there is an appeal to the public to avoid going near the Khor and the river, as the flow of the Swat River may increase due to rain. Tourists and locals should avoid unnecessary travel during the rain.
There is a flood situation in Mingora city, Charbagh Tehsil, Khwaza Khela, Madin, Kabal and Barikot.
Water entered the riverside population due to the increase in water level on the Swat Saidu Sharif Road.
Lightning struck Besh Banar Yakh Tange area of Mangalore, in which several houses were hit, a girl died due to lightning and several people are missing.
15 people trapped in the Swat River near Munda Head were safely evacuated.
According to the Deputy Commissioner, the trapped people had gone near the river to cut wood, fish and fodder for animals, but 15 people were trapped due to sudden flooding and rapid water flow in the Swat River.
Rescue 1122 teams carried out a successful rescue operation and safely evacuated all the trapped people.
Lower Dir
Dozens of tourists were trapped due to flooding in the rivers and canals in Shahi and Shahi Kot due to heavy rains. On receiving information, rescue personnel and disaster relief teams from Lower Dir and Upper Dir arrived along with ambulances.
The rescue team safely rescued more than 25 stranded tourists.
Rescue 1122 Lower Dir took timely action and saved two precious lives. Two people were trapped in the flooded river (Khor) at Maidan Hayasere (Ridge Bridge).
The water rescue team took timely and vigorous action and safely evacuated both the people.
Pakistan Army Relief Operation
Pakistan Army’s flood relief operation is underway in flood-affected districts of Swat and Bajaur.
People are being evacuated from flood-affected areas to safer places. People are being rescued by helicopter in Bajaur, while ration and medicines are also being provided by helicopter.
As soon as the Pakistan Army teams arrived, slogans of Pak Army Zindabad were raised. The operation will continue until all flood victims are safely rescued and evacuated to safe places.
Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan
Eight people, including six members of the same family, died in Azad Kashmir after clouds burst and rivers overflowed.
The government has closed educational institutions for two days due to heavy rains.
10 people also died in various accidents in Gilgit Baltistan due to heavy rains.
Relief funds released for affected districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
On the special instructions of the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, relief funds have been released for the districts affected by rains and flash floods.
According to the PDMA, a total of Rs 500 million has been released for the districts most affected by the floods.
Buner district, affected by rains and flash floods, has been released with Rs 150 million, Bajaur, Battagram and Mansehra districts with Rs 100 million each, and Swat with Rs 50 million.
On the special instructions of the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, all the relevant institutions have been directed to intensify relief activities.
According to the PDMA, their relief teams and the district administration are in full communication with each other and the situation is being monitored.
The spokesperson said that the PDMA’s Emergency Operations Center is fully functional. The public should contact the free helpline 1700 for any untoward incident, weather situation awareness and information.