Eight killed in raging K-P torrents

Flash floods continue to wreak havoc across KhyberPakhtunkhwa (K-P) as eight more people have fallen prey to rains and the flow of torrents across the province over the last 24 hours. Three persons were also left injured, according to figures shared by K-P Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Tuesday. It said that relief operations were ongoing in floodhit districts and all available resources were being utilized to provide succour to the victims.

PDMA spokesman said that 116 relief camps had been established for flood victims throughout the province. Over 77 camps had been set up in Nowshera district in which 25,000 people were accommodated where food and other basic facilities were being provided to them. Similarly, 11 camps had been established in Dera Ismail Khan in which basic necessities were being provided to 25,000 people, while the district administration had established 17 relief camps in Charsadda and seven in Dir Upper, two each in Malakand and Mansehra.

According to Director General PDMA Sharif Hussain, relief operations were underway in the flood-ravaged districts and the provincial government was making all-out efforts to reach the stricken people with a helping hand. A flood emergency and response centre had been set up in Abbottabad district, in which all the government agencies will be present round the clock to monitor the situation and coordinate relief activities. Relief camps had been set up at different places in Mansehra, in which the flood victims were being provided food, clean drinking water and other essentials.

Three people, including two Bulgarian women, have been rescued in a rescue operation by the district administration in Upper Kohistan. In Lower Kohistan, 600 packages had been delivered to the affected families by helicopter in different villages. Around 178 people were rescued and shifted to safe places by helicopter in Dir Upper, 14 in Chitral Upper and 210 in Dir Lower. Medical assistance had been provided to around 6,149 people.

Above 10,660 food packages had been provided so far by PDMA. NFI kits had been distributed among 10 families during the last 24 hours in these areas. On the instructions of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, PDMA released an additional amount of Rs220 million to 11 districts. According to Sharif Hussain, Rs30 million had been released for Kohistan Lower and Tank each, Rs20 million for Nowshera and Chitral each, while Rs1.5 million had been released for Shangla district, Rs10 million for Buner district, and Rs20 million for Dir Upper.