Monsoon rains kill 12 in KP in past 3 days; nationwide flood warning issued

The ongoing torrential rainfall in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has killed 12 people in three days, while 18 people have been injured, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Tuesday.

Power supply has been disrupted in several regions of the province due to the weather conditions, Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) said. Furthermore, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a nationwide alert warning of flash floods, urban flooding and landslides from July 21 to 24.

The PDMA report, detailing losses and damages for the Sunday to Tuesday period, showed that five men, two women and five children had been killed by the heavy rains.

Half of the deaths were reported from Khyber district, where a vehicle carrying Afghan families was swept away in a flash flood on Monday.

Two children lost their lives in Mardan and a man died in Peshawar over the past three days.

Furthermore, 10 men, four women and as many children were injured during the same period. Khyber accounted for half of those wounded, followed by Mardan where five were hurt in rain-related incidents, and four injured in Torghar.

A total of four animals also perished across Upper Dir, Abbottabad and Buner districts.

Three houses were fully destroyed along with partial damage to 15 others, the PDMA data showed.

Power disruptions in multiple districts

Meanwhile, power supply to 148 feeders had been disrupted in several districts of KP due to heavy rain, Pesco said on Tuesday.

According to a statement by a Pesco spokesperson, rain had continued for 12 hours across Peshawar, Khyber, Mardan, Swabi and Swat.

Among the affected feeders, 71 were in Peshawar Circle, 22 in Mardan, 33 in Khyber, 12 in Swabi and 10 in Swat Circle.

The spokesperson added that power supply in Peshawar’s Gulberg, University Town, Cantt, Warsak and Shabqadar areas was also disrupted, adding that rain was hampering power restoration efforts.

“Pesco staff worked through the night and have restored power to 42 feeders,” the statement said.

Pesco Chief Executive Officer Akhtar Hamid Khan directed operational teams to remain on high alert, and all necessary equipment has been provided to operational teams to expedite power restoration, the spokesperson said.

Countrywide alert for urban, river flooding

Separately, the NDMA also issued a nationwide alert warning of flash floods, urban flooding, landslides and rising river flows across several parts of Pakistan from July 21 to 24 (Tuesday to Friday).

It directed provincial and district authorities to remain on high alert, deploy emergency teams and ensure preventive measures in vulnerable areas amid forecasts of heavy monsoon rains.

The NDMA warned of flash floods in rivers, local streams and mountain waterways in KP, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Punjab and northeastern Balochistan.

In GB, districts of Hunza, Shigar and Ghanche face the risk of flash floods in the Shimshal, Hunza, Chapursan, Kilik, Shigar, Shyok and Hushe rivers.

In AJK, water levels were expected to rise dangerously in the Jhelum, Neelum, Poonch, Mahl and Kanshi rivers; Betar and Bhimber nullahs; as well as tributaries of the Jhelum and Poonch rivers.

The NDMA said flash floods may occur in the Chitral, Kabul, Swat and Panjkora rivers in KP.

Local streams in Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, Kohat, Bannu, Karak, Hangu, Lakki Marwat, North and South Waziristan, Bajaur, Mohmand, Mansehra, Buner and Swabi were also at risk of flooding.

In Punjab, hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan, the Soan River and the Potohar region may witness high water flows, the authority warned.

Flooding was also expected in rivers and seasonal streams of northeastern Balochistan.

The NDMA has forecasted high-level flooding at Marala Headworks on the Chenab River and in the upper reaches of Mangla on the Jhelum River.

Water levels may also rise suddenly in the Dora, Dota, Dwara, Bhimber, Halsi, Aik, Plakho, Bein, Basantar, Dek and Sukhi nullahs.

It warned that additional water releases from India’s Thein, Pong and Bhakra dams could increase flows in the Ravi and Sutlej rivers.

Urban flooding was feared in low-lying areas of Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Khushab, Sialkot, Gujrat, Narowal, Lahore, Okara, Chakwal and Attock.

Light to heavy rain lashed the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad as well as Murree on Monday, inundating low-lying areas in parts of the region.

The NDMA directed district administrations to continuously monitor rivers and streams, and urged people to avoid crossing such water bodies during periods of strong water flow.

Landslide alert for GB, Chitral

Separately, the NDMA also issued a landslide alert for KP’s Chitral and various mountainous areas of GB from July 21 to 23 (Tuesday to Thursday).

On Monday, three workers were killed and as many others injured after a landslide hit them in GB’s Nagar.

The NDMA alert covers Zangram to Ayun, Bamburet, Drosh to Lowi, Hindur to Barkulti, Qarghalti, Upper Yasin, Badswat to Bellahans, Puriyan Sar, Shamsabad, Ultar to Shispar, Karimabad to Altit, Hopper Nagar, Rama to Astore, Tarishing to Rupal and the Jaglot Skardu Road between RD 20 and RD 80, where landslides, falling rocks and debris flows may disrupt traffic.

The NDMA advised the public to avoid unnecessary travel to vulnerable and mountainous areas during the forecast period.

It also directed all relevant authorities to ensure continuous monitoring of sensitive locations, maintain emergency response readiness and make arrangements for the immediate restoration of roads in case of blockages.

The NDMA urged citizens to stay updated through its official mobile application, Pak NDMA Disaster Alert, and directed all provincial and district institutions to remain vigilant to deal with the evolving weather situation. ...