PESHAWAR:
Five people have lost their lives and another five were injured in rain and flood-related incidents across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The deceased include four children and a woman, while the injured comprise one man, one woman, and three children.
On Sunday the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) released a report on damages caused by heavy rains and flooding across K-P over the past two days.
The report stated that six houses were damaged, three of them partially and three completely destroyed, due to urban and flash flooding. These incidents were reported from Peshawar, South Waziristan, Khyber, and Abbottabad districts.
The PDMA further noted that since August 15, rain and flood-related accidents have claimed 411 lives, left 258 injured, and damaged 3,580 houses across the province.
The authority has directed district administrations to accelerate relief efforts and ensure immediate assistance to the affected families. It added that PDMA and all relevant departments are in close coordination and continuously monitoring the situation. The PDMA’s Emergency Operations Center is fully functional, while citizens have been urged to report emergencies or seek weather-related information through the free helpline 1700.
It may be recalled that torrential rains in Peshawar on Saturday caused flash flooding in several parts of the city, as stormwater drains and streams overflowed and inundated residential areas. Panic spread among residents as floodwaters entered homes, forcing authorities to carry out large-scale rescue operations using boats.
The rising water level in Budhni Nullah on the outskirts of the city reached the danger mark, prompting locals to shift their belongings to safer places. Areas including Regi Lalma, Budhni, Hasan Garhi, Sardar Garhi, and Warsak Road were badly affected, with entire neighborhoods submerged. Many families were trapped inside their houses in Regi and along Warsak Road until rescue teams reached them.
According to Rescue 1122, more than 300 residents were safely evacuated from flood-hit areas and shifted to secure locations. Over 280 personnel took part in the operations, deploying rubber boats, water rescue vans, disaster vehicles, fire tenders, and ambulances. Elderly citizens, women, and children were rescued on priority basis.
Floodwaters also accumulated in inner-city localities such as Kohati, Khyber Bazaar, Jehangirpura, Nishtarabad, and Gulbahar.
Announcements were made through loudspeakers near waterways to warn citizens and urge precautionary measures.
Officials said rescue teams acted promptly in Nasir Bagh Road, Warsak Road, and Budhni, preventing major casualties. Relief efforts continue as authorities monitor the situation amid forecasts of further rainfall.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary, Shahab Ali Shah, paid a detailed visit to Budhni Nullah on Warsak Road and Charsadda Road to review the situation arising from recent heavy rains.
He was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Captain (R) Sanaullah Khan, Director General Rescue 1122 Tayyab Abdullah, and officers of other relevant departments.
During a briefing, the Deputy Commissioner informed that water flow in Budhni Nullah and other streams and rivers is being continuously monitored. He said the district administration and Rescue 1122 teams remain on high alert to respond to any emergency.
Residents living along the banks have already been advised to take precautionary measures, while relief teams have been deployed at nearby points.
