PESHAWAR: At least 24 people have been killed and 17 wounded in rain-related incidents in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province in the last three days, an official statement said on Thursday.
The monsoon season in Pakistan, which runs from July to August, typically brings about 255mm of rain each month. In 2022, the monsoon rains caused significant damage across the country, with over 75,000 homes destroyed and 130,000 partially damaged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone, as reported by government and international aid agencies.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported that excessive rainfall has led to saturated flood basins, overflowing rivers, and overwhelmed drainage systems, resulting in widespread flooding.
During the past three days, 24 people have died in rain-related incidents, with the highest number of casualties reported in Kohat, where 10 people, including six children, lost their lives.
The district administration, along with Rescue 1122 and local volunteers, have recovered the deceased, and non-food items such as tents, mattresses, blankets, kitchen sets, and hygiene kits have been distributed to affected families.
Upper Chitral has experienced the most significant infrastructure damage, with 107 houses either fully or partially destroyed by flash floods. In total, 150 houses have been damaged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during this period—77 partially damaged and 73 destroyed. Other affected areas include Hangu, Haripur, Mansehra, Lower Dir, Charsadda, Mohmand, Bajaur, and Abbottabad, with landslides also reported in Abbottabad.
The PDMA has issued a weather warning for ongoing monsoon showers expected to continue intermittently until August 6. Scattered heavy rain, with isolated very heavy falls, is predicted for various districts including Dir, Bajaur, Chitral, Swat, Buner, Malakand, and others.
The alert warns of potential urban flooding in low-lying areas and flash floods in local streams. Landslides are also anticipated in the upper districts.
Relief efforts are underway by the PDMA, district administrations, and relief teams. Tourists are advised against traveling to the affected areas.
