Death toll from KP rains & floods rises to 26

PESHAWAR: The death toll from rains and floods in KP rose to 26 on Tuesday as the natural calamity took four more lives.

Different rivers in the province remained flooded due to recent heavy rains and the KP government launched relief activities in the affected districts.

Two children drowned while a young man was washed away by floodwater in Malala and Gosam streams in Munda tehsil in Lower Dir district, raising the toll in to 10 during the last 24 hours.

The rescue emergency team rushed to the site and shifted the two children to DHQ Hospital who were pulled out by the locals from the stream but the doctors in DHQ Hospital Timergara pronounced them dead. The search continued for the missing youth Rizwan in Gosam stream and he was feared to be dead.

In Maidan, rocks and mudslides hit the house of one Ibrahim; however no casualties were reported.

Rainwater also damaged many shops in Timergara Bazaar, especially those established in the basement.

Reports said that two people riding a motorcycle were swept away by the torrent in the Tatti Mamond area of Bajaur. The local people and the rescue staff saved one of them in in an injured condition.

The body of the other person was recovered after six-hours efforts. The victim was identified as 22-year-old Ikramullah, son of Ghulam Yousaf, a resident of Tangi Salarzai.

Over 25 cattle were killed when the roof of a cattle-pin caved in at the Shishi Koh area of the Lower Chitral.

The Garam Chashma Road in Lower Chitral was closed to traffic due to the floods and landslides. Roads in other parts of the Lower and Upper Chitral districts were shut as well but efforts were being made to reopen them.

Several areas in the Tank district were flooded and the settlements located there were inundated. The district administration took the steps to provide relief to the affected population.

The Kabul River was running in high flood and the water entered the houses located near its banks. The houses sustained damage after floodwater entered them due to the rising water level in the river. However, there was no loss of life. Officials said the floodwater reached Nowshera from Afghanistan, Chitral, Dir and Swat. The flow of water in the Kabul River was recorded at 2,12,000 cusecs. The water level was expected to recede late at night.

Deputy Commissioner Khalid Iqbal Khattak confirmed that the protective embankment broke down at some points and the floodwater entered Camp Koroona, Charbagh, Chowki Drab, Azakhel, Pir Pai, Nowshera Kalaan, Kheshgi Payan, Khesgi Bala, Aman Garh and Cantt.

The district administration, Rescue 1122, and police issued a high alert. The administration shifted the vulnerable population to safer places.

Rivers in Chitral, Swat and Chrassada were flooded due to the recent excessive rains.

People residing in the areas near the Budhni Nullah complained of inaction by the administration as various localities were still under water due to rising water level in the nullah on the Charsadda Road.

Meanwhile, an official communication said the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) dispatched relief goods for Swat, Mohmand, Lower Chitral, Lower Kohistan and other affected districts apart from the affected area of Peshawar.

Relief supplies dispatched by PDMA included tents, blankets, kitchen sets, hygiene kits, mosquito nets, mattresses and other necessary items.