K-P govt estimates flood losses to be around Rs100 billion

At least 106 children, 122 men and 36 women among dead; an additional 237 injured, with nearly 0.6 million affected

PESHAWAR:

At least 264 people have lost their lives to heavy rains and floods in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) province, raising the estimated damage of the province to possibly be around Rs 100 billion.

According to government estimates, 106 children, 122 men and 36 women were among the dead, and an additional 237 have been injured with nearly 0.6 million affected.

The unusually heavy showers had turned the small mountain streams and ravines into swollen rivers that washed away everything on their way including human beings, herds of cattle, standing crops, trees and houses.

The government’s preliminary survey report also stated that over 73,000 houses were affected – of which 30,233 were completely destroyed and 42,965 were partially damaged by the natural disaster.

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Another 754 schools were also said to have been affected - of these at least 72 were completely swept away by the floods, while 682 were partially damaged.

Health centers were also badly hit, with a total of 82 estimated to have been affected. Well over 60,000 acres of crop and 477 irrigation systems were also destroyed by the floods.

Nearly 1,455 kilometers of roads have also been destroyed, with 867 roads and at least 73 bridges affected.

Additionally, over 9,000 animals were also said to have been killed, which according to the principal minister Shaukat Yousafzai may potentially leave the total estimated financial cost at a staggering Rs100 billion. Meanwhile, the initial damage caused by the flood has been estimated at Rs68 billion.

Yousafzai also stated that the K-P government has directed the deputy commissioners of the flood-affected districts to provide a final report after the survey of their areas is completed.

According to the briefing given by the Flood Relief Cell to the province’s Chief Minister Mahmood Khan today, the districts of Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Dir, Kalam, Nowshera and Charsadda were worst-hit.

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At least 29 were killed in DI Khan, 26 in Swat, 22 in Mansehra, 16 in North Waziristan, 15 in Mardan, 15 in Karak, 15 in Lower Dir, 14 in Lower Kohistan, 13 in Bajaur, 13 in Lakki Marat, 13 in Upper Dir.

Furthermore, 29 bridges were damaged in Swat, 16 in Upper Dir, four in Lower Chitral, three in Lower Kohistan, three in Haripur, two in North Waziristan and another two in Abbottabad.

It is pertinent to note that the K-P chief minister had ordered a comprehensive study to identify flood-sensitive spots in the province for the construction of embankments and flood protection walls earlier today.

Meanwhile, the prices of various vegetables and fruits have massively surged in different parts of K-P amid fears that they will continue to rise due to short supply in markets and damages to the crops by the floods.