Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said on Friday that the death toll from the flooding in the province has passed 400.
Iftikhar said boats have also been arranged for and sent to the affected areas to assist and evacuate the people. He said the current calamity is a natural disaster and advised his party-members not to politicise the issue.
Punjab’s land route to Khyber Pukhtunkhwa through GT Road and Motorway has been disconnected, while areas from Mullah Mansoor to Attock have been submerged.
Large numbers of livestock have been swept away and crops soaked in the floods. Routes from Charsadda and Attock to Peshawar are closed and heavy traffic jam can be seen on many parts of the GT Road.
Due to heavy rains and floods, communication and road infrastructure have also been completely suspended in the areas. Shahra-e-Karakuram has been closed for traffic while Shangla has lost its ground contact with Kohistan Alai and Batgram. Peshawar Motorway and GT road Nowshera are also closed for all kinds of traffic.
The Met Office has predicted scattered thunderstorms and rains with isolated heavy falls over the province during the next 24 hours.
DI Khan is also among the worst hit districts where --according to reports pouring in -- five tehsils have been submerged completely. Army troops dispatched to the affected areas started rescue and relief efforts eary this morning.
US assures assistance
US Ambassador to Pakistan Ann Patterson assured full assistance to Pakistan following the heavy floods.
Patterson said the US will provide seven helicopters for relief activities, besides announcing a relief package for the rehabilitation of the affected people soon. She also said that heavy floods have done great damage in most parts of the country and the US is assessing the damage in coordination with the government of Pakistan.
83 missing, 900 stranded
Speaking to the media, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Ashfaq Nadeem said 83 people are missing while 96 have been injured in the flood-related incidents. He added that 900 people stranded in various locations have been airlifted to safer grounds.
About the rescue and relief operation, Gen Nadeem said 17 helicopters are participating in relief activities and six more helicopters have been sought from Pakistan Air Force.
He also informed the media that the provincial government has allocated Rs21 million for relief operation and affected people are being provided with basic facilities.
Boats dispatched
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has dispatched ten boats to Khyber-Pakhtukhwa to rescue people stranded in the flood water.
A spokesman for PAF said that the boats were sent from Faisal Air Base in Karachi. He said that 25 more boats will be sent to the flood-hit areas.
The spokesman said that PAF has also provided two helicopters to the National Disaster Management Authority.
He said that PAF rescue teams have also been sent to the flood-affected areas.
AJK
Dozens of houses and shops have been inundated with flood water in the Tahli Mandi, Lowyer Plate and Makry areas of Muzaffarabad.
Fifteen people have died and eleven injured due to floods in different areas of Azad Kashmir. Six people are also missing.
The water level in the River Jhelum has increased following a breach in the embankment of Zalzal Lake. Heavy rains and melting glaciers have caused a high-level flood in the River Neelum. Roads in Neelum and Jhelum valleys have been damaged due to land sliding.
Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Sardar Attiq has visited the flood-hit areas.
Islamabad and Rawalpindi
The water level in Nala Lai of Rawalpindi has begun to recede and is now out of the danger zone.
With fears of imminent danger looming large in the area, the people living near Nala Lai were shifted to safer grounds. One man died during the evacuation process.
So far, 152 mm rain has been recorded in Rawalpindi, while 190 mm rain has been recorded in Islamabad. The spillways of Rawal Dam have also been opened to drain the water, which had reached dangerous levels.
The twin cities no longer face any threats of floods.
Jhelum
The water level in River Jhelum has risen over 225, 000 cusecs, owing to heavy rains in the area.
Several areas including Ranjha Mehra, Sarai Alamgir, Bhulwal and Purani Jehlum are already submerged in floodwater. Water has even entered settlements near Maikwal -- and affected residents are being moved to safer areas.
Experts say the situation could get much worse as the water level in River Jhelum continues to rise.
DG Khan and Rajanpur
The water level has increased in the flooded areas of Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur and Taunsa.
150 people are stranded in low-lying areas of these districts. Torrential rains have flooded more than 60 villages in Dera Ghazi Khan.
Relief efforts are underway in Tibbi Qaisrani, Darkhwast Jamal, Mir Khokar and Mir Jhangi. The DCO of Layyah said that the local government is on alert to cope with floods. 600,000 cusecs of water will pass from Layya today.
The army has been called in Rajanpur to carry out relief operations.
Chenab
Persistent showers have caused massive floods near the river Chenab.
The floods have destroyed crops and waterlogged many villages.
Several villages near Multan - including Muhammad Pur Bhatta, Baili and Khaipur and have been inundated.
The Civil Defence Department has still not provided any boat service for the people left marooned by the floods. The people are moving towards safe grounds on their own, without any official help.
250,000 cusecs of water is expected to flow from the river Chenab shortly.
Balochistan
A rescue operation has been launched in Balochistan after floods devastated the province.
Shahi Canal that was breached in the Jaffarabad area has been repaired. The breach in Shahi Cananl damaged crops spreading over thousands of acres and fish farms. The road link between Jacobabad and Gandawah has been washed away.
About 70,000 cusecs of water coming from Suleman Moutain range has entered Naseerabad, Jhal Magsi and Bolan districts.
Sindh
Flash floods will enter Sindh in the next few days and increase the water level in Kotri Barrage.
Authorities are on high-alert as the floods will pass through Sukkur and Kotri barrages after 15 years.
Chief Engineer Irrigation in Kotri, Manzoor Ahmad, has cancelled the holidays of his staff.
The increasing water level in the River Indus suggests the situation is dangerous in the areas of Matiari, Bhanot, Old Hala and Salalor.
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