Tariq Saeed Peshawar
As the Provincial Disaster Management Authority warns of more rains leading to high floods and land sliding across the KP, the heavy downpour continued to take its toll as more casualties were reported Friday from different parts of the province taking the death figure to over three dozens and injuries to more than fifty.
Besides 2,400 houses were also damaged fully or partially in the rain related incidents during the last six days.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in a travel advisory issued Friday asked the tourists to refrain from visiting the hilly areas.
The statistics released by the PDMA reveals that more than 36 people, mostly children, fell victim to the rain related incidents, that includes collapsing of rooftops, lightings and floods, in less than a week time while over fifty people also sustained serious wounds. It said so far 20 children, eight males and equal number of females lost their lives while 33 males, 9 females and 11 children were injured in various districts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The affected districts include provincial metropolis Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera, Kohat, D I Khan, Khyber, Charsadda, Dir upper and lower, Chitral upper and lower, Shangla, Mohmand, Malakand, Karak, Tank, Buner, Hangu, Batagram, Bannu, North and south Waziristan and Orakzai tribal districts.
While a large number of animals also perished with hundreda of acres of standing crops destroyed, around 2,400 houses also sustained major damages with 390 structures destroyed completely during the heavy downpour across the province.
The PDMA said the fresh spell of heavy downpour was likely to continue till April 21 adding the agencies concerned and the district administrations have already been cautioned to stay at high alert and make necessary arrangements in anticipation. On the special instructions of the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 110 million rupees have been released for the affectees.
In the meanwhile the KP government has asked the tourists to avoid visiting the hilly areas. “Heavy rains often turn into natural calamities in the mountain ranges that are beyond human control, so avoiding travel there is the best option”.
