PESHAWAR:
At least 26 people, including 18 children, have been killed and 77 others injured in rain-related incidents in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa since March 25, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Friday.
The fatalities occurred when roofs and walls of homes collapsed due to the heavy downpours that have hit several parts of the province. Among the deceased are 18 children, three men and five women. Among the injured are 33 men, nine women and 35 children, according to the latest update from the PDMA.
The authority said a total of 102 houses have been damaged so far. Of them, 82 were partially damaged while 20 were completely destroyed. The incidents were reported from several districts including Bannu, Abbottabad, Kohat, Peshawar, Nowshera, Bajaur, Lakki Marwat, Kurram, Hangu, Shangla, Buner, Malakand, Upper Dir, Battagram, North Waziristan and Tank.
Bannu district has been identified as one of the worst affected areas. The PDMA director general has given special instructions to the district administration to ensure immediate assistance to the families of the deceased.
PDMA, Rescue 1122, district administrations and other concerned departments maintain close coordination to carry out rescue and relief operations. The authority has directed all concerned district administrations to expedite relief activities and provide immediate support, including food, tents and other essential items, to the affected families.
“District administrations must accelerate relief efforts and ensure that assistance reaches all affected households without delay,” DG PDMA stressed.
Intermittent rainfall continues in different parts of the province. The PDMA has forecast that a new spell of rain is likely to persist from April 1 to 4, raising concerns of further damage in vulnerable areas.
The Director-General appealed to the general public to avoid unnecessary travel, particularly to tourist and mountainous destinations that are prone to landslides and flooding. Citizens have been urged to strictly follow all weather alerts and advisories issued by the government.
The PDMA Emergency Operations Center operates 24 hours a day. People can contact the toll-free helpline 1700 for any emergency, real-time weather updates or to report adverse incidents.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as relief efforts continue in the affected districts. The authorities have assured that all possible measures are being taken to mitigate the impact of the current wave of rain and support affected communities.
