A vicious annual cycle: At least eight killed as rain creates havoc in FATA, K-P

Baitul Mal MD announces Rs50,000 each for families of deceased mine workers

CHITRAL/ HANGU/ PESHAWAR/ SHANGLA/ JAMRUD: At least eight persons were reported dead on Monday in rain related incidents across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). While the official death toll in the last four days stands at 21, unofficial figures hover at 31.

Khyber Agency political administration officials in Akakhel, Bara said five members of a family were killed when the roof of their house caved in as a result of continuous rainfall. Officials told The Express Tribune Waris Khan along with his wife, mother and two sons was killed in the incident. His daughter was injured.

Similarly, a man lost his life when the wall of his house collapsed in Ghundi area of Jamrud, Khyber Agency.

In another incident, one person was killed and five suffered injuries in a landslide in Drush and Zayarat areas in Chitral. The injured were rushed to the hospital in Peshawar for treatment.  A child died in Shangla amid reports of massive landslides. The district has seen rain and snow for five consecutive days. Roads from and to Karora, Besham, Lewnai and Ulander have been blocked intermittently.

Death count surge

Between FATA Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) estimates, 21 people have been killed, while 58 have been injured since Friday as rains played havoc in the region.

FDMA officials state 17 died in the tribal belt, including, seven killed in the coal mine blast in Lower Orakzai Agency. At least 39 were injured and 18 houses damaged. According to PDMA, four people died in K-P.

The rescue operation in the Orakzai coal mine owned by Al Hussaini company finally concluded on Monday.

The teams recovered seven bodies. Of 38 workers who were rescued, at least 10 were critically injured who are being treated in hospitals in Kohat and Peshawar.

A political administration official said the deceased were identified as Said Ahmed Hussain, Akhtar Hussain, Ahmed, Zahid Hussain, Din Muhammad, Fazal Rahim and Saddam Hussain. The injured  have been identified as Sabz Ali, Badshah Khan, Rahimullah, Shah Malik, Nawab Khan, Sarangzeb, Ahmed Zeb, Din Muhammad, Safeef and Muhammad Hussain. Bodies of five workers were handed over to the families in Shangla.

Behind coal mine collapse

The political administration official said initial investigation revealed the coal mine caved in because of an explosion within the mine. He claimed the explosion took place as gas accumulated inside the coal mine accompanied by heavy rainfall.

“A team will be formed to examine the real cause of the catastrophe.” He, however, shared so far no investigating team has been notified. The Baitul Mal, Islamabad managing director has announced Rs50,000 each for the families of deceased workers.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2016.