Rain-induced deluge kills six in South, North Waziristan

Two more bodies recovered in Lasbela district of Balochistan as authorities complete their rescue operation

PESHAWAR/QUETTA: Six people – among them four children – were killed and several houses were damaged after flash floods triggered by heavy rains swamped North and South Waziristan tribal agencies on Monday.

According to locals, six children from Dosali Tehsil of North Waziristan went to pick fruits on mountains where they were swept away by rain-induced flooding in a mountain stream.

Residents could rescue only two of them. They fished out three bodies, while one is still missing.



In the Shagai Tehsil of neighbouring South Waziristan, one man was killed and more than 40 houses were damaged by flash floods. Residents said they themselves carried out the rescue work as no government official came forward to help.

On the other hand, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued advisory for the public to adopt precautionary measures in the monsoon season. The authority has advised the public to avoid throwing garbage in sewerage lines as it can block them, which then could lead to inundation of the area.

“People must keep themselves away from electricity poles, signboards and trees in rain and storm,” stated a press release issued by PDMA spokesperson Taimur Ali.



People living in low-lying areas of the province have been instructed to shift their valuables from basements to upper floors of their houses. The authority has also advised people to evacuate abandoned and mud houses.

PDMA also suggested citizens to contact Deputy Commissioner Office (DCO) or PDMA’s helpline number `1700′ in case of an emergency.

The authority has also issued a report regarding damages and deaths in rain-related incidents in the month of June in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.



According to the report, nine people, including five women and two children, were killed due to natural calamities in June. It added that 17 people were injured in separate incidents of flash floods, roof collapse and sinking.

The authority has also issued a weather report suggesting that rain and thunderstorm, with gusty winds, is expected in the next 24 hours in Malakand and Hazara divisions.

Rescue job in Hub

Two more bodies were recovered from the flood-hit area of Lasbela district in Balochistan as authorities completed a rescue operation.



Assistant Commissioner Naeem Gichki said on Monday that the rescue operation was completed on the fifth day after flash floods hit Hub city. “Two bodies had been retrieved by rescue workers, whereas search for the remaining bodies is still underway. People were safely evacuated from the flood-hit villages,” said Gichki.

The recovered bodies were identified as Ghulam Ali and Zubair who hailed from Hub and were handed over to their families for burial.