The recent monsoon rains have wreaked havoc across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), resulting in the tragic loss of 24 lives and leaving 17 others injured, according to a report by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
The heavy rainfall, which began on July 29 and continued through Thursday, has had a devastating impact on the region.
Pakistan’s monsoon season typically runs from July to August, with an average monthly rainfall of approximately 255mm.
However, the monsoon of 2022 saw unprecedented damage, with over 75,000 homes destroyed and an additional 130,000 partially damaged in KP alone, as reported by government and international aid agencies.
In the latest report issued by the PDMA, the excessive rainfall has led to dangerously high water levels in flood basins, overflowing rivers, and overwhelmed natural drainage systems, which has directly contributed to widespread flooding across the province.
The PDMA highlighted that the heavy rains caused significant disruptions and damage to infrastructure, exacerbating the challenges faced by the affected communities.
“The district administration, together with Rescue 1122 and local volunteers, have been actively involved in the recovery efforts,” the report detailed.
It noted that the recovery teams have been diligently working to recover the deceased and provide essential non-food items (NFIs) to the affected families.
These items include tents, mattresses, blankets, kitchen sets, and hygiene kits, which are crucial for the survival and comfort of those displaced by the floods.
The report also indicated that Upper Chitral suffered the most severe damage, with 107 houses either fully or partially destroyed due to flash floods triggered by the intense rainfall.
Over the three days of the monsoon event, a total of 150 houses in KP were affected, with 77 houses suffering partial damage and 73 being completely destroyed.
In addition to Upper Chitral, flash floods and structural collapses have been reported in other districts, including Hangu, Haripur, Mansehra, Lower Dir, Charsadda, Mohmand, Bajaur, and Abbottabad.
Landslides were also reported in Abbottabad, further compounding the region’s difficulties.
Looking ahead, the PDMA has issued a new weather warning indicating that a fresh wave of monsoon showers is expected to begin shortly and continue intermittently until August 6.
The alert predicts “scattered heavy rainfall with isolated very heavy falls” in several districts, including Dir (Upper & Lower), Bajaur, Chitral (Upper & Lower), Swat, Buner, Malakand, Shangla, Kohistan (Lower & Upper), Torghar, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mohmand, Peshawar, Khyber, Kohat, Hangu, Kurram, Orakzai, Karak, Lakki Marwat, South & North Waziristan, Bannu, Tank, and Dera Ismail Khan.
ناران کاغان جانے والے سیاح متوجہ ہوں.@infokpgovt @KPRescue1122 @ndmapk @RadioPakistan @infokpgovt @DCLowerChitral @caesar_kahn @kptourism pic.twitter.com/NEGMOFNKeE
— PDMAKP OFFICIAL (@PDMAKP) July 30, 2024
The alert further cautioned that these torrential rains might lead to “urban flooding in the low-lying areas of the province” and flash flooding in local streams across several regions, including Galliyat, Mansehra, Battagram, Shangla, Torghar, Kohistan Upper, Kohistan Lower, Kolai Palas, Chitral, Malakand, Dir, Swat, Buner, Bannu, Kurram, North and South Waziristan, Orakzai, Khyber, Mohmand, Nowshera, Swabi, and DI Khan. Landslides are also anticipated in the upper districts due to the ongoing rainfall.
In response to the current situation, the PDMA, along with district administrations and relief teams, is actively engaged in providing aid and support to the affected populations.
Tourists have been advised to avoid travel to the impacted areas to ensure their safety and to allow relief efforts to proceed unhindered.
As the region braces for continued rainfall, the focus remains on emergency response and recovery, with authorities working tirelessly to mitigate the impact of the monsoon on communities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
