KP reels under rains: 12 dead, 18 injured

PMD warns of more downpours
PESHAWAR
At least 12 people were killed and 18 others injured in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past 48 hours after heavy rains and flash floods triggered house collapses and swept away structures across 14 districts, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Monday.
The latest spell of monsoon rains has battered both plains and hilly areas, with authorities warning that more rain-wind and thundershowers are expected until July 23.
According to PDMA’s damage report, the deceased include 5 men, 5 children and 2 women. Among the injured were 10 men, 4 women and 4 children.
The rains partially damaged 15 houses and completely destroyed 3 others. The incidents were reported from Peshawar, Nowshera, Khyber, Mardan, Buner, Bajaur, Lower Chitral, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Torghar, Kurram and North Waziristan.
PDMA said Rescue 1122, district administrations and relevant departments were in close coordination and relief activities were ongoing in the affected areas.
The authority has directed district administrations to expedite relief work and ensure immediate provision of aid to victims.
PDMA’s Emergency Operations Centre remains fully functional, and water levels in all major rivers and streams across the province are currently normal.
“All district administrations have already been placed on alert through an official communique,” PDMA Director General said. The public has been urged to avoid unnecessary travel, refrain from visiting sensitive tourist spots and hilly areas, and follow government alerts and advisories.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) in its weather update for July 21 said widespread intermittent rain-wind and thundershowers were expected over KP, Kashmir, Islamabad, Punjab, northeast Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan during the forecast period.
PMD warned that heavy to very heavy rainfall may occur at isolated locations, which could lead to localized flooding in low-lying areas, urban flooding, flash floods in vulnerable regions, and landslides in hilly terrain.
In Battagram, Rescue 1122 has intensified patrolling and monitoring at vulnerable points on the special instructions of DG Rescue 1122 KP Shah Fahd and Regional Director Operations North Arshad Iqbal.
District Emergency Officer Jan Muhammad Afridi said Rescue 1122 teams were maintaining continuous watch along the River Indus, Nandihar Khwar, seasonal streams and rain-fed passages.
Rescue personnel were also conducting a public safety awareness campaign. “Citizens, particularly parents, are urged not to allow children near streams, rainwater channels and other hazardous areas to prevent any untoward incident,” the statement said.
Rescue 1122 Battagram said it was in complete coordination with the district administration and fully prepared to respond to any emergency. The public has been asked to call 1122 immediately in case of any accident.
Authorities have reiterated that the next 48 hours remain critical as intermittent rains continue, and urged residents in low-lying and landslide-prone areas to remain vigilant.

By: JAVED KHAN MOHMAND