ISLAMABAD: Flash floods triggered by “above-normal” monsoon rains continue to wreak havoc across Pakistan, leaving various cities and villages submerged, crippling life and claiming around 1,000 lives since mid June.
As per the latest statistics, around 982 people lost their lives, 1,456 suffered injuries, 802,583 livestock died, and 682,139 houses collapsed due to the floods and downpours.
In addition to this, 498,833 people are compelled to live in relief camps established by the government while 48,931 were rescued. The flash floods have affected 5.7 million population as of August 27.
Ongoing rain-induced floods across Pakistan have claimed over 1,000 lives so far, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) shared in its latest update on Saturday night.
In its latest report gauging the situation in the last 24 hours, NDMA mentioned 119 deaths and 71 injuries due to incidents caused by flooding and rains in Pakistan.
According to NDMA’s data, 1,033 people have lost their lives and 1,527 have been injured since the incessant rainfall and subsequent flooding began destruction across the country from June 14.
One death has been recorded from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), four from Balochistan, six in Gilgit Baltistan, 31 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 76 in Sindh, as per the authority’s data.
Cumulative nationwide data from June 14 showed that 3,451.5kms of road has been damaged, and 149 bridges have collapsed, 170 shops destroyed.
A total of 949,858 homes have been partially or fully destroyed, out of the total, 662,446 homes have been partially damaged, 287,412 have been fully destroyed. While 719,558 livestock has also been killed.
At least 110 districts of Pakistan have been hit by the floods with 72 of those districts declared calamity hit.
The NDMA's latest sit rep shows 5,773,063 people have been affected by the floods. However, it clarified that the data in today's sitrep was based on confirmed figures but its estimates showed that more than 33 million of population has been affected by the floods.
The authority shared that 51,275 have been rescued while 498,442 have been moved to relief camps.
The NDMA shared that Pakistan's 30-year average showed that the country has received 134mm of rain and this year it received 388.7mm of rain. 190.07% more than the average.
TANDO ADAM: Armed men diverted the flood water towards the city by placing barricades at two places in order to save their crops.
According to the administration, the flood waves moving towards the city from Tando Adam Bypass.
Special assistant of Sindh Chief Minister said the water has already entered Jaman Shah area.
If timely measures are not taken then the city will sink completely, he said, adding that the chief minister has been informed about the situation.
National Highway Authority (NHA) spokesperson said that the chairman has cancelled the leaves of the staff, ordering the officers concerned to restore all land connections across the country as soon as possible.
The authority has issued orders to ensure the flow of traffic on its road networks.
A flood emergency centre has been set up at NHA headquarters.
The spokesperson said these numbers can be contacted in case of emergency.
Numbers: 051-9032815, 051-9032808.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Saturday announced to impose emergency in 13 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Furthermore, relief camps have been set up in schools and colleges, while hospitals have been put on high alert.
PDMA’s report stated that so far, people from 25 villages have been evacuated. In total, 180,000 people have migrated to safe areas.
Flash floods have damaged 24 bridges and 50 hotels in Swat. The authority emphasised that the floods in Nowshera are less intense as compared to those witnessed during 2010.
National Highway Authority has formed a 24/7 emergency flood cell in the NHA Headquarters, Islamabad, and all zonal offices.
For any information related to road infrastructure and assistance, please call at 051 9032815 and 051 9032808
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah said that no area in the province remains unaffected from flooding.
“It seems like the entire Indus River has overflowed across Sindh,” he lamented, informing how the recent floods are more devastating than the ones inundating the province in 2010 and 2011 combined.
CM Murad added that rescue and relief operation teams have found it challenging to continue their activities in the midst of persistent rains.
During briefing by Mirpurkhas’ commissioner, the CM was told that Umerkot has received 570mm rain, Kunri 644, Samaro 676, and Pithoro 337 mm. The downpour has claimed four lives and injured 10 others, so far.
Additionally, rains have also submerged cotton and other crops standing over 88,885 acres, while around 60,300 homes have been destroyed.
More than 400,000 people have displaced of which 4,923 have been shifted to 32 relief camps who are being provided with food and medical aid.
Kabul River’s water level have decreased in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Nowshehra district, and as per reports the flow of water has decreased from 315,000 cusecs to 309,000 cusecs.
District administration shared that water levels in the Kabul River are decreasing; however, there is a warning for high-level flooding in the river at Jehangira.
“There is a high level of flood in the Indus River at Khairabad Attock which is 547,000 cusecs,” the administration informed.
The UK will be providing urgent support to Pakistan following devastating floods in the country which have claimed nearly 1000 lives so far. The ongoing disaster has affected millions across the country, leaving around 700,000 homes destroyed.
Following directions of Corps Commander Peshawar, troops have established contact with a few families stuck in Kumrat during sudden flash floods, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
The families travelled to the valley from Islamabad among which 22 people have been rescued and evacuated via helicopter. Some of the families have gone toward the hills, so they haven’t been evacuated yet following bad weather.
“However continuous contact is maintained with them and those famines have been shifted to safer places around those mountains tops,” the military’s media wing said, adding that those people are safe and will be evacuated by army aviation helicopters as and when weather permits.
Additionally, a ground party is also ready from Khaweza Khela for evacuation. “People are requested not to travel towards swat and surrounding areas due to flash floods,” the ISPR advised.
Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Saturday visited flood-affected areas of Balochistan to review the situation of relief and rehabilitation works being carried out by military troops, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) shared.
“The safety and well-being of our countrymen come first and we won’t rest until each one of flood affected is not only reached but rehabilitated, no matter how much effort is required,” the army chief said during the visit.
The military’s media wing mentioned that COAS Bajwa asserted that the people of Pakistan are the priority and “we won’t spare any effort to assist them in this difficult time.”
The army chief visited flood relief and medical camps established at Goth Sadoori, Lakhra, and Lasbela and inquired about the well-being of local people affected due to floods.
ISPR further added that Gen Bajwa also met troops busy in relief operations and lauded their efforts in service of men, women and children in distress.
He also directed to utilise all available resources to assist the civil administration in the rescue, relief and rehabilitation of people and infrastructure in the flood-affected areas.
Dr Kazim Niaz, the federal secretary water resources, and WAPDA Chairman Sajjad Ghani on Saturday visited the Mohmand Dam Project to review the situation following unprecedented flood peaks in River Swat, Radio Pakistan reported.
The officials were briefed about the aftermath of flood and the loss to different components of the project.
The loss and its aftereffects will further impact the timelines of the project’s completion.
WAPDA Chairman directed the project management to devise a contingency plan to overcome possible delays in the completion of the project.
Mohmand Dam is being constructed on River Swat in District Mohmand of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Troops of Pakistan Army are currently engaged in providing relief and rescue services to flood victims across areas in Sindh including Sanghar, Kot Shahdadpur and Jam Nawaz Ali, Tando Allah Yar. Mitiari, Hyderabad, Thatta, Tharparkar, Dadu, the Inter-Services Public Relations noted.
More than 10 villages sink in Nushki
More than 10 villages in Nushki have submerged following the over-flooding of the canal.
Nushki district’s Dak area was severely flooded and residents of the area have taken shelter on mudslides.
Relief teams are reaching the post office in Dak and rescue operation is initiated for trapped residents of the area, according to the administration.
Electricity also remains suspended in Nushki and adjacent areas for the last two days, which has triggered a severe water crisis.
PML-N’s supremo Nawaz Sharif said “politics can wait” and has urged all the party workers to help flood affectees.
PTI Chairperson Imran Khan will be conducting an international telethon on Monday night to raise funds flood victims.
“Imran Tigers will be activated to volunteer for relief work,” he said, announcing the development on Twitter.
But Khan also clarified that PTI’s campaign for “Haqeeqi Azadi” will continue alongside their flood relief work.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has lashed out at Opposition for prioritising a political gathering rather than worrying about flood victims.
“Our priority is to stand with flood victims,” he said, stressing on ensuring provision of relief to those in need.
“Sindh is the most-affected province with 80,000 families migrating from Larkana alone,” he said, adding that affectees are moving toward drier locations.
Shedding light on his future plans, the foreign minister said that reconstruction and rehabilitation are the medium- and long-term plans of the Sindh government.
He further added that the provincial government is hopeful of receiving funds from the federal government for the Benazir Income Support Programme which will help the flood affectees.
Copr Commander Lieutenant General Hasan Azhar Hayat visited Nowshehra to review flood situation, directing troops to ensure speedy relief to residents.
Approximately 315,000 cusecs of high-level flood water passing through River Kabul had submerged adjacent areas including Dhobi Ghat, Babu Muhalla, Nowshehra Kalan, and Golf Club Jinnah Bagh.
Water is flowing from Nowshehra to Khairabad. According to Nowshehra’s deputy commissioner, flooding will lessen in 2 to 3 hours.
Karachi’s deputy commissioner south has established relief camps across the district, while donations and collections are being made at camps in five locations including Teen Talwar, Shaheen Complex, Lyari, Fawara Chowk, M A Jinnah Road.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the humanitarian situation in Pakistan has deteriorated further over the past two weeks as heavy rains continue to cause flooding and landslides resulting in displacement and damage across the country.
It said that 66 districts have been officially declared to be calamity hit – 31 in Balochistan, 23 in Sindh, 9 in KP and three in Punjab.
At least six more dams and reservoirs were breached in several districts of Balochistan as a result of flash floods caused by heavy rains, it emerged on Saturday morning.
Different areas in Ziarat, Pishin, Mastung, Khuzdar, Bolan and other cities were inundated with flood water after the dams were breached. The incidents caused widespread devastation and claimed several lives in the areas.
Internet services have been disrupted in Chitral, Upper Dir, Donbala, Swat, Medan, Lal Qila Samarbaghdir, Tank and DI Khan due to flash flood, damage to optical fibre cable and power outage, confirmed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
Taking to Twitter, the PTA said that flash floods have damaged optical fibre cable and led to power outages, due to which there is an "impact" on the services.
"PTA is monitoring the situation closely. Work is underway to fully restore services," the telecommunication authority said.