Peshawar:
A deluge of biblical proportions struck the Up -Pays areas while the monsoon rains, the clouds of clouds and the landslides have wreaked havoc, saying that more than 200 lives in just 24 hours, officials reported on Friday – a survivor of the disaster compared the `Doomsday ”.
KHYBER-PAKHTUNKHWA (KP) brought the weight of the disaster of the apocalyptic scale, with the Biner district to the eye of the storm. Whole communities have been swept away from their feet, demolished houses and whole families lost in the blink of an eye.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) published a dark update late Friday evening, confirming 194 deaths on a national scale. Among these, 180 were recorded in KP, nine in Azad Jammu and Cashmire (AJK) and five in the northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).
Among the victims, there were at least 19 women and 17 children, most of the deaths resulting from the collapsing houses and the sudden and punishing thrust of sudden floods, said NDMA. Dozens of other people were reported injured in the province.
However, the dispatches of our correspondents in various fields of KP have suggested a cumulative assessment of 214 in the province, so far – 157 in the Biner district alone. Some media reports have also made higher death tolls of 10 in GB and 19 in AJK.
Buner became the hardest shot, with KP chief secretary, Shahab Ali Shah, confirming 100 deaths. The assistant commissioner declared flooding emergencies in the subdivisions of Daggar, Gadezai, Gagra, Mandanr and Chagharzai, while the rescue teams were fighting against time and ensured that the waters to save lives.
The human cost of the disaster is immense, with painful stories of survival and loss emerging from the wreck.
“I heard a loud noise as if the mountain slipped. I rushed to the outside and I saw the whole area tremble. I thought it was apocalyptic,” said Azizullah resident of Biner.
In the tribal district of Bajaur, bordering Afghanistan, a cloud and a thunderbolt around midnight in the village of Jabrai, Salarzai Tehsil, brought total annihilation. Four houses were demolished, killing 21 people and injuring five others.
The rescue teams, braving treacherous conditions, have recovered most of the victims, although two remain missing. The tragedy was aggravated by the fact that whole families have been lost; The deceased included eight family members and five members each of two other families.
The photos of the AFP of the scene captured the dark reality: a crowd gathered around an excavator digging through a hill soaked in mud, while nearby funeral prayers took place in a paddock for several bodies covered with blankets.
Bajaur sub-commissioner Shahid Ali confirmed that 19 bodies had been recovered. The rescue efforts were seriously hampered by quick flow water, the increase in river levels and the landslides that blocked road access for heavy machines.
On the border of Manshra-Battagram, a cloud of clouds in the village of Dheri Haleem Neelban in the Shimlai region led to one of the deadliest incidents. More than 25 deaths were confirmed after lightning blows and sudden floods destroyed 10 houses, washing in the unleashed Nandhar stream.
Sixteen bodies, including women and children, have been recovered in various places along the stream, research operations continuing for the missing. Most deceased will come from the same family.
The wider district of Mansehra has witnessed several tragedies. In Nala Khareela Bassi from Balakot, a car was swept away, killing two occupants. In Khairabad, a collapse of the house cost a mother and her young daughter.
The Shangla district is in shock from sudden floods and lightning blows that swept over 20 people, many are still missing and more than 50 injured. In a heartbreaking incident, seven members of the same family have perished.
The infrastructure has been decimated, with houses, shops and even damaged cemeteries. Alpuri-Bisham’s main highway was swept away in two places, cutting access to many areas. The district was plunged into darkness after more than 35 main power rounds have been damaged.
Tehsil Puran would be the most affected area, with localities like Kozpau, Alloch and Choga submerged for the first time in memory. In Mansehra, the police saved seven tourists trapped by heavy rains at Lake Samahk SAR. In Swat, the rescuers saved six people blocked in the Swat river.
National response mobilized
In response to climbing the crisis, the KP government declared the seriously affected mountain districts of Buner, Bajaur, Manshra and Battagram as affected areas in the event of a disaster, and announced on Saturday as a day of mourning.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif summoned an emergency meeting to examine the flood situation, where he was informed by the president of the NDMA, Lieutenant-General Inam Haider Malik. He ordered the NDMA to use all the resources available to support the KP government in emergency and rescue efforts.
The NDMA actively coordinates a massive response involving the PDMA, the Pakistani army, the district administrations and the rescue 1122. The Marshal Chief of the Army, the Marshal Syed Asim Munnir, issued special instructions for the rehabilitation of people affected by KP floods.
According to security sources, the army chief said that the troops deployed in KP would extend full aid in the rehabilitation of people affected by the floods. In this regard, additional military contingents were also sent.
They also declared that the army chief had asked the Corps of Engineers to finish the repair work of the bridges as soon as possible and to install temporary bridges if necessary. The army sniff dog unit was also sent for research and rescue operations.
In addition, a special urban research and rescue team had also been deployed on the orders of the army chief, confirmed the sources, adding that army helicopters and army aviation assets had already been deployed for the rehabilitation of people affected by floods.
The Pakistani army donated a day of salary and awarded a day ration – amounting to more than 600 tonnes – for the aid for rescue of people affected by KP floods. “The Pakistani army stands in the shoulder with KP’s courageous people at all times of difficulties,” said a source.
More rain forecasts
The KP test is far from over. Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has planned more rain for Saturday (today), with heavy falls expected in the upper KP, the Potohar region and the Kashmir region.
Authorities have warned that new rains could cause more floods in local rivers and rivers and trigger additional landslides in the vulnerable hilly areas of KP, GB, Mirror and AJK. A PDMA official noted that this year’s monsoon season began earlier and should end later. “The next 15 days … The intensity of the monsoon will act still,” he warned.
Elsewhere, heavy rains have also paralyzed infrastructure in GB, where landslides blocked the crucial Jaglot-Skardu road with four distinct points. The National Highway Authority (NHA) has deployed teams for customs clearance operations, which are watched 24 hours a day.
The authorities urged the public to remain vigilant, to avoid rivers and streams and to abstain from unnecessary trips. Tourists, in particular, were invited not to visit the northern regions in the next five to six days while Pakistan supports for more rain while crying a devastating loss of life.
PM orders immediate relief, rescue operation
Friday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held an emergency meeting to examine the situation of floods in the country due to recent rains.
President of the lieutenant-general of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) The lieutenant-general Inam Haider Malik informed the Prime Minister of damages caused by the cloudburs and sudden floods in the upper parts of the country and on rescue and rescue operations.
The Prime Minister ordered the NDMA to continue its cooperation with the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to provide them with all the possible support of the rescue and rescue operation using all the available resources.
He ordered the president of the NDMA to improve coordination with the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for rescue and rescue activities.
Tents, drugs, foods and other rescue materials must be delivered immediately to the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said that the addition of emergency supplies should be sent by truck by priority.
He ordered that people and tourists blocked in areas affected by floods are immediately taken to safer places.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister was informed of the progress of rescue and rescue operations as well as an assessment of damages.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister organized a telephone conversation with governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi and chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur.
He said the NDMA has been responsible for providing all the possible aid to the provincial government in rescue and rescue operations.
“The federal government will provide all possible assistance to the provincial government,” he said.
He told the chief minister that the federal government was sending medication, tents and food.
“Our sympathies are with the victims in this difficult period,” he added.
(With agency entries)
