Rain deluge kills 27 in K-P

80 houses destroyed, 272 damaged in less than a month

PESHAWAR:

At least 27 deaths have been reported in rain-related incidents in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) since June 15. Another 37 have been left injured.

Similarly, 80 houses were fully and 272 were partially damaged across the province.

This was revealed during a high level meeting held here on Wednesday to review flood situation in the province.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan chaired the meeting.

He expressed satisfaction over the measures and relief activities to deal with the flood situation in the province and said that the provincial government would extend all possible support to the flood affectees in this difficult situation.

CM ordered compensation packages for the flood victims as per the policy of provincial government and result-oriented steps for their rehabilitation.

He also directed relief activities especially medical camps and aerial spray to prevent epidemic diseases in Tank and other flood affected areas till the situation return to the normal.

Provincial Minister for Relief Iqbal Wazir, Special Assistant to CM on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Chief Secretary Dr Shehzad Bangash, administrative secretaries of the concerned departments, director general PDMA and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said that the provincial government was utilizing all available resources to give relief to the people affected by the recent flash floods. The chief minister, further directed formulating proper plan to protect the people of vulnerable areas from flood damages in future on sustainable basis.

“The plan should have short-term, mid-term and long-term safety measures and development initiatives with set priorities”, he said, adding that the provincial government would implement that plan under the ADP.

He further directed high alert during the possible second spell of monsoon rains in the province.

Earlier, briefing about the flood situation, damages and relief activities in the province, the meeting was informed that from June 15th 2022 to 12th July 2022, a total of 80 houses were fully damaged whereas more than 272 houses were reported as partially damaged.

Similarly, a total of 27 deaths and 37 injuries were reported till date.

The meeting was informed that rescue and relief activities were in full swing in the flood affected areas of the province.

Tents, food items, drinking water and other necessary commodities have been distributed among the victims.

So far 150 patients have been examined by health teams in medical camps.

Livestock department has established a free camp in Tank to ensure vaccination of animals and provide necessary medicines. They also informed that dewatering operation in flood hit areas was also in progress by Rescue 1122 teams.

The participants were informed that the monsoon contingency plan was developed in consultation with all key stake holders and timely advisories were issued to all stakeholders for the mitigation of monsoon effects, adding that the PDMA has the close liaison with all departments and sufficient stock of required equipment and other resources was available in all districts.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2022.