KP mourns as death toll caused by heavy floods rises to 344
Emergency declared in nine affected districts till Sept 30; Gandapur orders compensation payments be completed within two days; Bajaur faces highest death toll with 184 fatalities
NHA’s workforce from Sindh, Punjab mobilized to KP for speedy recovery
Monitoring Desk
PESHAWAR: As the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Saturday officially mourned the death of hundreds of people including women and children killed by the angry waters across the province, the natural calamity continued to take its toll as the number of those killed during the last 48 hours rose to 344. The death is still feared to go higher as several people were reported missing till the filing of this report.
The torrential rains and cloud burst followed by heavy floods and land sliding in 11 districts of the province had played havoc killing more than 230 people till Friday.
The Buner district remained hard-hit where several villages were swept away by the angry waters killing at least 184.
However, the death toll rose to 344 on Saturday as more bodies were found during the hectic search activities being conducted in various districts with Buner death mounting to around 190.
Around 2,000 rescuers mostly divers were busy in search operation recovering bodies from the debris and carrying out relief operations in the affected districts. The KP Relief department has declared the affected district as calamity-hit and imposed emergency from august 15 to Sept 30. Owing to continued threats of Glaciated Lake Outburst Floods and landsliding the tourists have been advised to avoid visiting the northern areas.
“In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone, 328 people perished and dozens were left injured, while Gilgit Baltistan recorded 12 deaths and Azad Jammu and Kashmir 11 fatalities,” the National Disaster Management Authority said on Saturday. Authorities fear that the toll may rise further as search operations continue in severely impacted areas as severe floods and landslides in districts including Buner, Swat, Mansehra, Bajaur, and Batagram have destroyed homes, shops, and infrastructure.
In Swat, flash floods destroyed properties across Mingora, Manglor, Matta, and Kokarai, killing 22 people, with four others missing. Bodies were recovered from Bishbanr and Mingora, while several houses in Makan Bagh and Shaheedabad were completely damaged. Survivors are engaged in cleaning and salvaging their homes and businesses.
Mansehra witnessed 20 deaths due to floods and landslides. Relief and rescue operations in Buner, Bajaur, Mansehra, and Battagram are ongoing, with over 300 people rescued by Pakistan Army teams, who are assisting affected communities and relocating residents to safer areas.
Abbottabad experienced severe flooding in the Mangal Nadi river due to torrential rains. The connecting bridge to the surrounding villages in Mangal was swept away, cutting off ground access, though no casualties were reported. Residents demanded the immediate restoration of the bridge by local authorities.
“Heavy rainfall, landslides in several areas, and washed-out roads are causing significant challenges in delivering aid, particularly in transporting heavy machinery and ambulances,” said the spokesman for KP PDMA adding due to road closures in most areas, rescue workers are travelling on foot to conduct operations in remote regions.
“They are trying to evacuate survivors, but very few people are relocating due to the deaths of their relatives or loved ones being trapped in the debris. The provincial government has also activated a nationwide 911 helpline for flood victims under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directives.
KP CM’s Adviser to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Information, Barrister Saif Saturday said that a total of 11 districts have been affected from cloudbursts and floods in KP adding the total number of people affected by the floods is 3,817.
Dr. Saif said as many as 32 people were still missing for whom a search was underway as 545 rescuers and 90 vehicles and boats were taking part in the rescue and relief operations.
Meanwhile, KP’s Health Adviser Ihtisham Ali has departed for Buner along with a consignment of medicines, ambulances and medical staff.
The Local Government Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has set up a special control room. According to the official notification, the control room has been established at the Directorate General to monitor the KP floods and related emergency developments. Special staff have been assigned duties to ensure round-the-clock supervision of the situation.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Saturday chaired an emergency meeting in Peshawar to review damages caused by cloudbursts, heavy rains, and flash floods across the province. The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, senior officials, and representatives of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority. The participants were informed that work was being carried out to restore road links to cut-off areas, and medical teams, food, medicines, and essential supplies were being sent to the affected districts.
The meeting was also informed that the provincial government has released Rs. 1.5 billion to PDMA for rescue, relief, and compensation, and another Rs. 1.5 billion to the Communication and Works Department for repair of roads and infrastructure. In addition, Rs. 500 million has been allocated to deputy commissioners for compensating the families of those who lost their lives. A flood and health emergency has been declared in the affected areas. Officials said rescue operations have largely been completed, and the focus has now shifted to relief and rehabilitation. While the federal government and the Pakistan Army are extending assistance, the provincial civil administration is leading the response.
Speaking at the meeting, Chief Minister Gandapur said the provincial government stands firmly with the people in this difficult time and will use all available resources for their rehabilitation. The Chief Minister directed that road connectivity be restored as quickly as possible, with helicopters used to deliver aid to inaccessible areas. He ordered that compensation payments be completed within two days, additional medical staff be deployed from neighboring districts, and food supplies be ensured so that no affected family faces shortages.
NHA’s workforce from Sindh, Punjab mobilized to KP for speedy recovery
Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan on Saturday gave directions to shift the entire workforce of the National Highway Authority and associated department from Sindh and Punjab to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa so that road links there could be restored.
Besides, repair and reconstruction work on damaged roads has also been underway on a fast-track basis so that life could return to normalcy in the flood-stricken areas of the province.
Aleem Khan also held a telephonic conversation with KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to discuss the recent situation arising from torrential rains and floods in the province and the extensive damage caused to roads and bridges, there.
Abdul Aleem Khan expressed his deep sorrow and grief over the loss of precious lives and property in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He stated that the NHA is fully mobilized and all its resources are available for the people of KPK.
The Minister added that repair and reconstruction work on damaged roads and bridges had already begun round the clock and wherever required machinery and workforce from NHA Punjab and Sindh Offices are also being deployed in KP. He assured the Chief Minister as per the requirements of Provincial Government, NHA would be at its service. Moreover, Aleem Khan was briefed by the Federal Secretary Communications, currently in Gilgit-Baltistan, and by the Chairman NHA from KP. They informed him that acting on the Minister’s directions, NHA teams had immediately commenced restoration work on Friday as a result of which the Mansehra-Naran-JhalKhund Road had been opened for traffic while road is also clear from Balakot to Babusar Top.
Aleem Khan directed that NHA officers shall remain in the field until the last road and bridge is restored and no negligence will be tolerated.
It is noteworthy that soon after the emergency reports were received on Friday, Aleem Khan directed the Secretary Communications to proceed to Gilgit-Baltistan and the Chairman NHA to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Five high-level operational teams were formed and work began immediately in the northern areas and KPK to restore roads, remove landslides and take other necessary measures, there.
In the report presented to the Federal Minister, the Chairman NHA noted that bridges on the Karakoram Highway and Jaglot-Skardu Road have collapsed and will take some time to reconnect; however, traffic has been restored from Balakot to Karlat, Kawai and Shogran where the Federal Secretary Communications is personally supervising the restoration work.
