Pakistan

WATCH: Army copter rescues 22 tourists stranded in Kumrat valley

ISPR says remaining people will also be rescued when the weather permits as the region hit by flash flood

News Desk August 27, 2022

ISPR says 22 people have been evacuated through helicopter. SCREENGRAB

A Pakistan Army team on Saturday rescued 22 tourists who had gone from Islamabad and got struck in Kumrat valley in Upper Dir of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

The rescue operation was conducted after videos of the affected families went viral on social media where they were reportedly stuck for two days.

"We're stuck here for two days and are braving the cold weather... we can't even talk. We are wet and forced to sleep on the floor," one of the affected women can be heard saying in a short video clip.

It’s been more than 2 days now and the family is still there with no food & water. They are sick and slept in an open sky. Could the govt of KP rescue them from Kumrat some how. The location & details are below. https://t.co/lDGRsiKk57 pic.twitter.com/ZF6NSNFcrM
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) August 27, 2022

She had said that the people stuck had run out of food and water, urging the authorities to rescue them as soon as possible.

#Kalam
Family stuck in kumrat valley
Please help them#ڈوب_رہا_ہے_پاکستان #cm_kp @IMMahmoodKhan pic.twitter.com/uKXImdUr9N
— wasim zia (@WasimZia14) August 27, 2022

"Reference few families who had gone from Islamabad and struck in Kumrat due to sudden flash floods. Contact has been established by Peshawar Corps troops on the direction of Corps Commander Peshawar," a statement from the military's media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said.

Important Update ⚠ 🔊

Reference few families who had gone from Islamabad and struck in Kumrat due to sudden flash floods. Contact has been established by Peshawar Corps troops on the direction of Corps Commander Peashawar. 22x people have been evacuated through helicopter. 1/n pic.twitter.com/Zvpk50grj1
— Pakistan Strategic Forum (@ForumStrategic) August 27, 2022

It said that 22 people had been evacuated through helicopter. "Some families went on hills and couldn’t be evacuated due to bad weather. However, continuous contact is maintained with them and those families have been shifted to safer places around those mountains tops," it added.

The ISPR also said that even those who have not been rescued are now safe and will be evacuated by army aviation helicopters as and when weather permits. "A ground party is also ready from Khaweza Khela for evacuation."

The military urged the people not to travel towards Swat and surrounding areas due to flash floods.

کمراٹ میں سیاحوں کی موجودگی کی اطلاع ۔ وزیراعلیٰ خیبر پختونخوا @IMMahmoodKhan کا نوٹس

پولیس ، ریسکیو 1122اور دیگر ادارے سیاحوں کو ریسکیو کرنے کیلئے روانہ
وزیر اعلی محمود خان کا سیاحوں کو جلد از جلد ریسکیو کرنے کی ہدایت.#KPFloodReliefOperations pic.twitter.com/rj1YQOqvDN
— Zafar Ullah Wazir (@Zafaroo7) August 27, 2022

PTI's social media focal person Azhar Mashwani also shared an official press release saying that the district administration is aware and keeping an eye on the situation.

وادی کمراٹ میں پھنسے سیاحوں کو نکالنے کے لیے ریسکیو اور پولیس کی ٹیمیں پہنچ چکی ہیں اور انشأللہ جلد انہیں ریسکیو کر لیا جائے گا

بارش اور سیلاب سے پل اور سڑکیں بہہ چکی ہیں اور مسلسل بارش کے باعث ہیلی کاپٹر بھی وہاں نہیں پہنچ سکتے#KPFloodReliefOperation #Kumrat #PakistanFloods pic.twitter.com/GkV8TROA81
— Azhar Mashwani (@MashwaniAzhar) August 27, 2022

"Rescue teams and local volunteers are waiting for the weather to get better and the people will be rescued as soon as the weather permits," the statement said.