Rescue teams are working amid power outages, flooding and adverse weather conditions as rain disrupts daily life across the province.
Heavy rains have caused flooding on the Zhob-Dera national highway, resulting in the closure of the highway PHOTO: EXPRESS
PESHAWAR:
At least nine people have died and 47 others have been injured after heavy rains caused roofs and walls to collapse in parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa since March 25, according to a report released on Monday by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). Intermittent rain is expected to continue through Tuesday.
The PDMA reported that the deaths occurred in several districts, including Bannu and North Waziristan. Eight of the deceased were children and one was a woman. Among the injured are 26 men and 21 children. Additionally, six houses suffered partial damage.
Rescue 1122, district administrations and other relevant agencies are coordinating and continuing relief operations.
Officials have directed local administrations of the affected districts to ensure prompt supply of relief items. Authorities in Bannu, the worst affected district, have been instructed to provide immediate assistance to the families of those who lost their lives.
Heavy rains also caused flooding on the Zhob-Dera national highway, resulting in its closure.
In Lakki Marwat, a roof collapsed in the Serai Noorung area late at night, injuring two children aged eight and three. Rescuers rescued them from the rubble and took them to a hospital.
In Nowshera, the roof of a house collapsed in the Bara Banda area, injuring two men and two women. Rescuers 1122 evacuated all the injured and transported them to a hospital.
Read: Nine people die in rain-related incidents in KP, Punjab
Intermittent rain continues across the province affecting Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, North Waziristan, Kohat, Bajaur, Dir, Chitral, Swat, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Battagram, Shangla and Khyber.
Light snowfall has been recorded in the higher mountainous regions, while the lower hill areas are experiencing a sharp drop in temperature.
In Lower Dir, heavy rain over the past 24 hours has caused torrents in local streams and low-level flooding in the Panjkora River. The storms have also disrupted power, leaving several areas without power overnight. Strong winds and rain have brought colder conditions to the region.
Peshawar and its surrounding areas have also been affected, with slums submerged and water pooling on roads, causing traffic disruptions.
Authorities have urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, particularly in flood-prone areas, and to follow official warnings.
The PDMA, Rescue 1122, district administrations and other agencies continue to participate in the relief efforts. The PDMA director general has instructed local administrations, especially in Bannu, to expedite relief operations and provide immediate support to the affected families.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed grief over the loss of lives, according to a statement issued by the governor’s press secretary.
