K-P braces for a sizzling summer

Various departments have swung into action to minimise the impact of the impending heatwave

PESHAWAR:

As the mercury continues to rise across the country, with an ominous hint of a deadly hot spell on the horizon, the northwestern province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has also begun feeling the heat. Per the Meteorological Department, the temperature in K-P has already seared to its hottest mark in the last 30 years, while the region is expected to experience a further five to six per cent rise in mercury. The fast blushing weather map suggests that the province, in the coming days, may battle with a surge in sunstroke cases, which could put a devastating burden on the healthcare sector if caution is not practised.

According to K-P Meteorological Department’s Deputy Director, the average temperature in the plains is seen to linger around 36.9 degrees Celsius around this time of the year. However, this year, the mercury climbed to a record-breaking 41 degrees Celsius, while the mountainous regions have also been experiencing an unfamiliar rise in heat. “This puts areas like Dir, Malakand, Chitral, Kohistan and others at a risk of being flooded owing to the rapid melting of snow on the mountains,” he said.

In view of the expected weather conditions the Met director has advised the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to remain out of direct sunlight for the rest of the month, and those in the upper areas, who are living close to the glaciers to relocate to safer planes.

Aamir Muhammad, a Chitral man who trains people in safety drills related to weather emergencies and keeps an eye out for climatic disturbances says that there are some 380 villages in Chitral that are currently in the red zone, while Upper Chitral has 90 villages across 30 high-risk places where glaciers are likely to collapse.

In addition to that, experts also predict that the changing weather pattern may also have various long-term impacts on the region, including a province-wide water shortage due to decreasing rainfall and depleting groundwater resources.

Some cities in K-P have already started feeling the first ripples of the burgeoning problem. For instance, in Tanda Dam in Kohat, the water level dropped to dangerously low in May. Water from the Tanda Dam has since not reached the spillway, due to which the water in the wells has also decreased. However, if this situation persists, a decreasing water table might worsen the water shortage problem in a city like Kohat. Other cities may face similar problems if strategic planning is not implemented.

The Pakistan Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued an alert on the current weather situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. PDMA spokesman Muhammad Rafique said that the Meteorological Department predicts an increase in heat intensity in the following weeks. According to the forecast, the temperature in the province’s plains, including Peshawar, would rise by 7-9 degrees Celsius. “In response to this, the Director-General of PDMA has directed all the concerned agencies to remain on high alert in case of any emergency, while Rescue 1122 has also been put on alert due to the possible heatwaves and resulting damage,” he said.

According to Rescue 1122 Director-General Dr Khatir Ahmed, Rescue 1122 stations are open 24-hour a day, while control rooms have also been made fully operational in advance of the expected heatwave. In addition to that, he said ambulances have been advised to be equipped with coolers, water bottles, ice bags, and medicines required for treating and stabilising patients suffering from heatstroke. “People should also avoid unnecessary travel in the afternoon. They should wear light clothing, put a wet cloth on their heads, drink plenty of water, and call 1122 in case of any emergency,” he told.

On the other hand, the wildlife department has also issued an advisory to lessen the impact of the approaching heatwave. Forest officials have reportedly instructed field staff to carry hats and bottles of lemonade and cover their heads with a damp cloth, wear loose clothing, drink plenty of water and avoid sunlight whenever possible. They have been tasked with providing first aid kits and locating the nearest health centre and all necessary assistance for victims of heat stroke or dehydration.

In addition to that, a watering system has been prescribed to protect local plants from heat damage, while the availability of water and shade in zoos and animal parks has also been stressed in the wildlife department’s latest advisory.

Similarly, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has also launched into action in advance of the heatwave warning, ordering all three major hospitals across Peshawar to receive and prioritise treatment for heatstroke patients. According to Lady Reading Hospital spokesman Muhammad Asim, they have the province’s largest emergency service, with a capacity of 200 patients. “Our heatwave-related measures are complete, and special wards will be built if necessary,” he told The Express Tribune, while representatives of the other two hospitals also shared similar details.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2022.