At least 17 people have been reported dead in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday due to incidents of roof collapse and mudslides after the devastating impact of persistent heavy rain and snowfall for the last three days.
The adverse weather conditions have not spared other parts of the country, leading to tragic incidents, road blockades, and disruptions in daily life.
In KP, Rescue Director General Peshawar confirmed that five children, a woman, and a man lost their lives, while five others sustained injuries in rain-related incidents in the Khyber district. Incidents of roof collapse were also reported in Peshawar, Lower Dir, and Bajaur, resulting in the unfortunate loss of human lives and livestock.
Tragedy struck in Lower Dir when a mudslide buried a house, leading to the death of three individuals. Rescue teams swiftly responded, recovering the bodies and transporting the injured to the hospital.
Khyber district experienced a third consecutive day of rain and snowfall, causing low-lying areas to be inundated and residents facing considerable difficulties in daily activities.
The adverse weather conditions are not confined to K-P alone. From Lahore to Balochistan, Karachi, and the northern mountainous areas, the entire country is grappling with the repercussions of unpredictable weather patterns. In Karachi, authorities declared a ‘rain emergency’ due to the ongoing unpredictable weather, while Lahore witnessed light rain in various areas, including Gulberg, Lahore Cantonment, and Mall Road. Other cities in Punjab, such as Kasur, Muridke, Phoolnagar, Sharaqpur, and Jhang, reported downpours, resulting in casualties and property damage. Northern mountainous areas, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, reported intermittent rain and snowfall, raising concerns about highway blockades due to snow and landslides.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army is carrying out rescue operations following heavy snowfall and rain in the areas around Lowari Tunnel, Kalam, Chitral, and Malam Jabba and other areas.
The army’s rescue teams remained active throughout the night, clearing snow from the roads and rescuing travellers trapped in snow-affected areas. Moreover, essential supplies and medicines were being provided from nearby army camps.
Over the past few days, the rescue teams have actively worked to reopen roads affected by heavy snowfall.
The army, in collaboration with district administration, has been using heavy machinery to address urgent situations.
Efforts by the army to completely restore access to all roads affected by severe snowfall will persist until full recovery is achieved.
Rain with snowfall pummelled up and down the country on Friday, from the foots of Himalaya and Karakoram to the coast of the Arabian Sea, unleashing floods in some coastal towns in Balochistan and disrupting daily life in the plains of Sindh and Punjab.
Authorities, who had been warned of rains from March 1 to 3 in advance by the Pakistan Meteorological Department, remained on alert in different parts of the country and launched immediate rescue in Gwadar to save the marooned people.
The rain started on Thursday night and continued intermittently throughout Friday. The rainfall disrupted daily life in various parts of the country, especially in Sindh and Balochistan, and caused great inconvenience to travellers. It also compelled the people to remain indoors to stay warm.
