No incident of cloudburst reported anywhere in KP, says PDMA
JAVED KHAN MOHMAND
PESHAWAR
At least three people lost their lives and 16 others were injured as heavy rains, flash floods, strong winds and lightning caused widespread damage in several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the last 24 hours, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
A PDMA situation report said the fatalities included two children and a woman, while the injured comprised five men and 11 children. Most casualties occurred after the collapse of roofs and walls of houses damaged by the severe weather.
The report said 34 houses were damaged, either partially or completely, in weather-related incidents reported from Khyber, Lower Dir, Mardan, Shangla, Bajaur and Lower Chitral districts.
Rescue and relief operations are underway, with the PDMA, Rescue 1122, district administrations and other relevant agencies coordinating efforts in the affected areas.
The authority has directed district administrations to expedite relief activities, provide immediate assistance to affected families and ensure the timely distribution of relief goods.
Meanwhile, the PDMA has warned that rising temperatures in the upper districts of the province could accelerate glacier melting, increasing the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), flash floods and landslides.
In view of the forecast, the authority has instructed the district administrations of Upper and Lower Chitral, Swat, Upper Dir, Kohistan and Mansehra to take preventive measures and remain on high alert. The administrations have been directed to maintain continuous monitoring in vulnerable glacial areas, keep rescue personnel, heavy machinery and emergency equipment on standby, and ensure the timely evacuation of populations at risk to safer locations if required.
The PDMA also advised the public to avoid unnecessary travel, particularly to vulnerable and tourist areas, and to follow weather advisories and alerts issued by government agencies.
The authority said its Emergency Operations Centre remained fully operational and urged citizens to report emergencies or seek weather-related information through its toll-free helpline, 1700.
The spokesperson for the PDMA-KP Anwar Shad has clarified that no incident of cloudburst was reported anywhere in the province during the last 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Director General Rescue 1122 Shahid Fahad has directed all district emergency officers to remain on high alert and complete all precautionary measures in view of the prevailing weather conditions.
In a statement issued here, Rescue 1122 said all district rescue stations had been placed on high alert. Water rescue, medical, firefighting, and search-and-rescue teams have been fully prepared, while the availability of boats, life jackets, rescue ropes and other water rescue equipment has been ensured.
The statement added that additional rescue personnel and specialised teams were being deployed at vulnerable locations, while continuous monitoring of rivers, storm drains and flood channels was underway to enable a prompt response to any emergency.
