Islamabad:
At least 242 people were killed and nearly 600 wounded of torrential rains, devastating floods and storms that have swept Pakistan since the start of the monsoon at the end of June, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported on Tuesday.
The majority of the victims were reported in Punjab, where 135 people have lost their lives so far, while Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa recorded 56 deaths. The other seriously affected regions include Sindh with 24 deaths and Balutchistan with 16.
In Islamabad, six people, four children, were swept away by the floods. Three deaths were reported in the Gilgit-Baltistan, and two deaths occurred in Azad Cashmere. The total number includes 116 children, 43 women and 83 men, according to the NDMA.
The widespread rains caused severe destruction, damaging 854 houses, with more than 200 cattle. In Punjab, 168 houses were destroyed, while 230 KP houses were affected.
In the Sindh, 87 houses were damaged and in GB, 145 houses were swept away. Balutchistan reported 64 destroyed houses, Azad Cachemire 104 and Islamabad 56.
The floods have also wreaked havoc on infrastructure. The NDMA confirmed that 10 kilometers of roads and nine bridges had been destroyed by storms.
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“During rescue operations, 450 people were safely evacuated from the affected areas,” said a spokesperson for the NDMA.
In the past 24 hours, 21 additional deaths and six injuries have been reported, KP suffering from the greatest number of victims. Sudden floods in the province cost the lives of 10 people, including six children and two women.
Deaths have also been reported in Islamabad, where five people, three of whom were, were swept away in the floods. Two people also died in the Sindh and one in GB.
President, PM directs the quick rescue efforts for flood victims
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have ordered immediate assistance and rehabilitation for communities affected by floods across the country, following high precipitation and floods.
In separate declarations, the two leaders asked the competent authorities to intensify rescue operations in the affected areas. Expressing a deep sadness of loss of life due to rains and floods, the two leaders exercised condolences to bereaved families.
The Prime Minister also urged NDMA to stay in close contact with provincial governments and guarantee full support.
Sharif called for a rapid deployment of rescue measures to alleviate the suffering of affected populations. He also underlined the need for in -depth preparation in anticipation of new potential challenges in the coming days.
The Prime Minister also ordered the National Highway Authority (NHA) and the organization of border work (FWO) to accelerate the restoration of motorways and other vital roads that have been damaged by floods.
The authorities have already mobilized teams to eliminate blocked roads and provide necessary medical aid to flood victims. The two leaders reiterated their commitment to ensuring the security and well-being of citizens following the disaster.
