Rain-related fatalities during ongoing monsoon spell rise to 20 in KP
LOWER SOUTH WAZIRISTAN/ MIRANSHAH: The death toll from rain-related incidents during the ongoing monsoon spell and flash floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has risen to 20. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the current rain spell, which...
Rain-triggered deaths in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa climbed to 20 as the province continued to face the impact of the ongoing monsoon spell and flash floods, according to reports monitored from a public news feed based on Dawn Home.
The latest fatalities were reported in North Waziristan, where two men drowned after a flash flood swept them away in the Tochi River, Rescue 1122 spokesperson Noor Islam said in a statement. Their bodies were recovered after hours of search efforts, he said. The spokesperson warned that the river had reached “exceptionally” high levels and that flood-like conditions were still present in the area.
He urged residents to keep away from rivers, seasonal streams and drainage channels, saying floodwaters can rise within minutes during sudden downpours. Rescue teams remained on alert at different locations across the affected areas, he added, and people were advised not to put their lives at risk by trying to retrieve firewood, livestock or other belongings during flood conditions.
Earlier, four members of the same family were killed when the roof of their house collapsed in Upper South Waziristan during heavy rain, according to Additional Deputy Commissioner Fazal Wadood. The incident took place in Bangiwala village on the outskirts of Sararogha tehsil. The victims were identified as a couple and their son and daughter.
A report issued by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority earlier in the day, before the North Waziristan incident was included, put the province-wide toll at 18 dead and 19 injured since July 19. The PDMA report also recorded damage to 23 houses, partial damage to seven others, and the death of 13 cattle during the spell.
In a separate update, the PDMA said river and stream flows across KP were normal at the time of the statement, while district administrations had been instructed to stay alert. It also shared its helpline, 1700, for weather information and emergency reporting.
Heavy rain has also disrupted life in Lower South Waziristan, where landslides blocked the Wana-Gomal Zam Road, a key route for trade and transport. Local officials and residents told Dawn that large rocks had fallen at several points along the road, while potholes, damaged culverts, bridges and protection walls had made travel difficult and unsafe. District officials said work had started to clear the route, and the communication and works department estimated it could reopen by Thursday.
There were also reports of flash flooding in parts of Lower South Waziristan, with officials saying high water flows were seen in the Tanai and Spin streams. The Pakistan Meteorological Department said the current rain spell, which began on July 19, is expected to continue until July 23 in KP.
Separately, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said he chaired a meeting at the National Emergencies Operations Centre to review national monsoon preparedness. He said the session examined provincial readiness, relief supplies and drainage systems, while the NEOC was monitoring the weather round the clock. The report is based on a monitored public feed and attributed to Dawn Home.
Source: Dawn Home - https://www.dawn.com/news/2017494/rain-related-fatalities-during-ongoing-monsoon-spell-rise-to-20-in-kp
