PESHAWAR/SWAT: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government on Friday imposed rain emergency in several districts of the province including Swat until August 30, following worst devastation caused by flashfloods and torrential rains with Chief Minister Mahmood directed the PDMA and other department to expedite relief and rescue activities.
The decision was taken after flashfloods wreaked havoc in Swat, Shangla, Mingora, Kohistan and other areas. Videos circulating on social media show hotels, link roads, suspension bridges, houses, hospitals, schools, mini-power stations, and water mills being completely washed away as residents scramble to find refuge.
According to a handout issued by the provincial government, the emergency will remain in place in Swat and other areas until August 30 for effective conduct rescue and relief activities in the affected areas.
وزیر اعلیٰ خیبر پختونخوا کی خصوصی ہدایت پر سوات میں ایمرجنسی نافذ
محکمہ ریلیف نے ایمرجنسی کے نفاذ کا باقاعدہ اعلامیہ جاری کر دیا
سوات کے سیلاب سے متاثرہ علاقوں میں امدادی سرگرمیوں کے لیے 30 اگست ایمرجنسی نافذ العمل رہے گی.#kpupdate pic.twitter.com/YhWBludRYL
— Information Department KP (@infokpgovt) August 26, 2022
According to the PDMA, 251 people have died in the floods across KP since June, while over 19,000 houses have been completely destroyed.
In a notification issued on Friday, the KP’s Provincial Emergency Operations Centre said that water flows in River Swat at Khawazakhela point and its tributaries/nullahs had reached high to very high flood levels — 227,899 cusecs — which may result in a dangerous situation for communities living in the surroundings of the river.
خیبرپختونخوا:سوات میں مسلسل بارشوں نے تباہی مچادی ہے۔سیلابی ریلہ اپنے ساتھ کٸی گھر،ہوٹل بہا کے لے گٸی ہے۔مدین اور بحرین سے منسلک روڈ بہہ جانے کی وجہ سے زمینی رابطہ کٹ چکاہے۔#FloodsInPakistan #floodinkpk#Swat pic.twitter.com/K6yxajF2vB
— Peshawar News پشاور نیوز (@AajKiNe85663538) August 26, 2022
It has directed the deputy commissioners of Swat, Lower Dir, Malakand, Mohmand, Charsadda, Mardan, Nowshera and Peshawar to immediately identify vulnerable areas and communities at risk to devise mitigation and safety measures.
“Maintain enhanced alert level and monitor the developing situation to reduce reaction and response times,” the centre said, calling for the sensitisation of people living on the banks of the rivers about the increase in water flows.
“Make announcements for timely evacuation of the at-risk population from low-lying/flood-prone areas as per evacuation plans,” it added.
The PDMA also instructed authorities to evacuate cattle from areas at risk of flooding, as well as restrict vehicle movement there.
#Swat Mingwara Makanbagh Flood
پانی گھروں کی اندر داخل لوگوں کو انتہائی
تکلیف کا سامنا کرنا پڑا، کچھ لوگوں کے کافی نقصان بھی ہوا- اللہ کا شکر، اب سب کھچ بہال ہیں. pic.twitter.com/6MntRw3C4r— Syed Asad Bdar (@Acid24108128) August 25, 2022
Earlier today, three people drowned in River Indus near Bisham area of Shangla. According to the local police, two other men in the Shang area were also swept away during the floods.
Separately, a rural health centre in Karora area of Shangla was washed away by floods in the Kana River.
Moreover, three houses and a mosque were swept away by the roaring floodwater, while roads and bridges leading to Ranolia and Dubair areas had been completely destroyed.
In Shangla, the Alpuri-Puran and Karora-Kana roads also suffered several damages at several points, creating a sense of panic among the residents as they were restricted to their houses.
Three sisters die in house collapse
Three sisters died when roof of their dilapidated house collapsed due to heavy rains in Shalkanai area of Khal tehsil in Dir on Friday.
According to police, the deceased were identified as Anam Bibi (13), Parera (8) and Aman Bibi (5), daughters of Shah Gee Rehman, who were buried at a local graveyard.
On the other hand, five brothers were swept away in a hill torrent in Abbottabad, district Lower Kohistan, while the locals succeeded in fishing out one of the siblings alive on Friday.
Reportedly, five brothers were trapped in a torrent and the gushing waters swept them away. The siblings remained trapped in the flashflood for almost six hours. The locals dived into the water and managed to rescue one of the brothers.
However, it is feared that his four brothers have drowned. The rescuers are trying to find their bodies.
Pictures broadcast a private TV channel showed that the five brothers standing on a big rock amid gushing floodwater. They used a rope to tie themselves with the rock but the furious water swept them away.
All government and private schools in the area have also been closed until further notice.
Swat Deputy Commissioner Junaid Khan said the provincial government has begun rescue operations across the province and was trying to reach out to stranded people.
In Nowshera, all the schools and hospitals have been declared to be under administrative control. Residents have been told to evacuate the area and move to safer locations.
In a statement today, the Frontier Works Organisation said that the Karakoram Highway was swept away by floods at Zaidkarh Dassua and was blocked at several points due to landslides.
KP CM Mahmood Khan directed the PDMA to expedite relief activities in the area besides timely provision of grocery, cooked food and other items to the affectees. “The local administration should reach out to every person affected by floods,” he said.
He further directed the district administration to restore damaged infrastructure by utilizing all-out resources.
Floodwater deluge passing through Charsadda
Meanwhile, a huge deluge of floodwater – 95,000 cusecs passing through Khayali Bridge in Charsadda district, making police and rescue workers start announcements to stop people from passing through the bridge as they feared its collapse due to the heavy flow of floodwater.
The terrifying video showed 95,000 cusecs of floodwater flowing under Charsadda’s Khayali Bridge. The officials of the provincial irrigation department said that the capacity of water flow of Khayali Bridge is 100,000 cusecs, whereas, 95,000 cusecs of flood water is currently passing under the bridge.
The spokesperson of the irrigation department said that the flood water has now entered the fields and low-lying areas. The water flow was diverted to Jandi River for reducing the losses, the spokesperson added.
Sources said that the residents of the areas near Jandi River have been issued warnings to immediately move to safe localities. The officials said that a relief camp was established at the Abdul Wali Khan Sports Complex, whereas, Charsadda-Peshawar GT Road was completely closed for traffic.
The teams of the Pakistan Army were also busy in relief activities in the flood-hit areas.
Earlier on August 24, the KP CM announced imposition of emergency in district Tank amid heavy rainfall and floods.
According to details, CM KPK Mehmood Khan had ordered the district administration to speed up rescue and relief operations in the district. Affected people should be evacuated and moved to secure areas, the CM ordered.
The CM had ordered the Commissioner Dera Ismail Khan and Deputy Commissioner Tank to monitor the relief and rescue operations.
Earlier in July, the Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) announced a relief package of Rs1 billion for flood-affected families in the province.
According to details, the KP CM announced to provide Rs0.8 million to the families of deceased and Rs0.4 million to people whose houses were severely damaged. Families with temporarily damaged homes would be provided with a financial relief of Rs160,000.
An amount of Rs10,000/ per acre would be provided to farmers with flood-affected fields. CM Mehmood Khan visited flood-affected areas along with Asad Qaiser, Shahram Tarakia and other MPAs.
