At least 18 people have died, and 19 others have been injured in rain-related incidents across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since July 19, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
The deceased include seven men, eight children, and three women, while the injured comprise 11 men, four women, and four children, the PDMA said in its latest report on the impact of ongoing rains and flash floods in the province.
The report also states that 30 houses were damaged due to heavy rains and flash floods. Of these, 23 were partially damaged, while seven were destroyed.
The affected districts include Peshawar, Nowshera, Khyber, Mardan, Buner, Bajaur, Shangla, Swabi, Lower Chitral, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Torghar, Kurram, North Waziristan, and South Waziristan.
A PDMA spokesperson said that Rescue 1122, district administrations, and other relevant agencies are continuing relief operations. Authorities in the affected districts have been directed to ensure the immediate provision of relief assistance to those impacted.
According to the PDMA, water levels in the province’s rivers and streams are currently within the normal range. However, intermittent heavy rainfall is expected to continue until July 23.
The Director General of the PDMA has urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel, refrain from visiting vulnerable tourist destinations, and strictly follow weather advisories and safety instructions issued by government authorities.
On the other hand, authorities have issued a high alert across several districts of Punjab after India released a significant volume of water from the Salal Dam into the Chenab River, triggering a sharp rise in water levels.
The water flow at Head Marala surged from 3,100 cusecs to nearly 28,000 cusecs, raising fears of flooding in downstream areas and prompting emergency preparedness measures, according to media reports.
According to the Punjab Irrigation Department, the release of water from the Salal Dam is expected to significantly increase the flow of the Chenab River, raising the risk of flooding in low-lying areas. In response, the administrations of several districts, including Sialkot and Wazirabad, have been placed on high alert.
The Irrigation Department said all relevant agencies have been directed to take precautionary measures to deal with any emergency, while the water level in the Chenab River is being closely monitored.
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