Rain-related fatalities during ongoing monsoon spell rise to 18 in KP
PESHAWAR: The death toll from rain-related incidents during the ongoing monsoon spell and flash floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has risen to 18. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the current rain spell, which began on July 19, is expected to...
PESHAWAR: Rain-related deaths and flood damage have continued to mount in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the province remains in the grip of an active monsoon spell.
The death toll from rain-related incidents and flash floods has climbed to 18, according to details reported by Dawn based on a monitored public feed. The Pakistan Meteorological Department said the current spell of rain, which started on July 19, is likely to continue until July 23 in the province.
The latest fatalities were reported from Upper South Waziristan, where four members of the same family were killed when the roof of their house collapsed during heavy rain, Additional Deputy Commissioner Fazal Wadood told Dawn. He said the incident took place in Bangiwala village on the outskirts of Sararogha tehsil. The victims were a couple and their son and daughter.
Separately, a Provincial Disaster Management Authority report issued on Monday morning said 14 people had died and 19 others were injured in rain-related incidents across KP since July 19. The report did not include the South Waziristan deaths, raising the overall toll recorded between July 19 and July 22 to 18.
The PDMA also said 22 houses had been partially damaged and six destroyed in rain-related incidents across the province. In a statement, the authority said water levels in rivers and streams across KP were currently normal, but all district administrations had been instructed to stay on alert. It also said people could call helpline 1700 for weather information or to report any emergency.
The rains have also disrupted travel and daily life in Lower South Waziristan, where landslides blocked the Wana-Gomal Zam Road, a key route for trade and communication in the region. A district administration official confirmed the blockage to Dawn.
Residents and commuters said large rocks had fallen from mountains at several points along the road, while deep potholes had developed in other places. They added that several culverts, bridges and protection walls had also been damaged, making travel hazardous. Local people urged the authorities to clear the route quickly and restore traffic.
Ahmadzai Wazir tribal elders also called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other authorities to begin reconstruction work on the road, saying it had long been in poor condition and was often closed even after moderate rainfall.
Elsewhere in Lower South Waziristan, district administration officials said flash floods were reported in the Tanai and Spin streams after the rainfall, with agricultural land in several areas also said to have been damaged.
Source: Dawn Home - https://www.dawn.com/news/2017494/rain-related-fatalities-during-ongoing-monsoon-spell-rise-to-18-in-kp
