The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued an alert to residents and local authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to the rising flood threat in the province’s rivers. The Meteorological Department predicts continued rainfall until April 20. Peshawar received 12 mm of rain within few hours. According to PDMA, most Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rivers are experiencing medium-level flooding, and further rain is expected to worsen the situation. The authority has urged residents living near rivers to evacuate to safer locations. A recent PDMA report details the casualties and property damage caused by the heavy rains. So far, 36 people have died and 46 have been injured in rain-related accidents.
The deceased include eight boys and eight girls, while the injured include nine females, 33 males, and eleven children. The heavy rains have also damaged 2,391 houses across various districts. Of these, 388 houses were completely destroyed, and 2,003 sustained partial damage. The affected districts include Dir Upper and Lower, Chitral Upper, Swat, Bajaur, Shangla, Mansehra, Mohmand, Malakand, Karak, Tank, Mardan, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Bunir, Hangu, Batgram, Bannu, North and South Waziristan, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, and Orakzai. Meanwhile the widespread rains with thunderstorms and winds have played havoc with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where as many as 36 people have so far been killed 53 injured and 2391 houses damaged.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the current rain spell that started on April 12 in the province has claimed huge losses, adding that out of 2,391 damaged houses, 388 were destroyed and the rest were partially damaged. In a report of losses, the authority said that on the instructions of the Chief Minister, PDMA had released Rs 110 million for rain-affected people while relief goods were also provided to the district administrations.—INP
