Death toll from floods reaches 1,343 as 18 more die

NFRCC says total of 12,720 people injured after 17 more reported to have been injured in a day

The National Flood Response Coordination Centre (NFRCC) reported 18 more deaths on Wednesday due to flash floods during the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 1,343. The total number of injured reached 12,720 after 17 more were reported injured.

More than 33 million people in Pakistan have been affected by the floods brought on by record monsoon rains amplified by climate change. The floods have caused deaths, washed away homes, businesses as well as infrastructure.

According to the NFRCC, so far 383 army aviation helicopters sorties have been flown to various areas/locations for evacuation of stranded people.

In the last 24 hours, 20 sorties have flown and evacuated 217 stranded individuals and delivered 30 tons of relief items to the flood affectees. At least 3,847 stranded individuals have been evacuated through these helicopter sorties up till now.

Read Massive relief operation under way as flood death toll rises

The army has also established 147 relief camps in Sindh, South Punjab and Balochistan, along with 278 relief item collection points across the country.

Ration and other sustenance items collected through the collection points have been distributed in Sindh, receiving 287 tons; 125.7 tons in Balochistan; 100 tons in K-P and 35 tons in South Punjab. At least 1,200 tents procured by the Pakistan Army have arrived in Pakistan for distribution.

At least, 4,973 tons of food items along with 925 tons of sustenance items and 2.8 million medicinal items have been collected so far. Of these, 4,377.9 tons of food, 887 tons of sustenance items and 2.5 million medicinal items have been distributed in the areas in need up till now.

More than 250 army medical camps have been established so far, in which more than 98,551 patients have been treated all across the country, and provided three to five days’ free medicine.

The Pakistan Navy (PN) has also established 16 Flood Relief Coordination Centres and six Central Collection Points all across the country, and distributed 1,127 tons ration, 2,532 tents and 419,577 litres of mineral water in various districts. In addition, two tent cities have also been established where approximately 807 families have been accommodated.

Moreover, the navy's 23 Emergency Response Teams (ERTs) deployed in 10 districts have rescued 12,476 stranded victims. These ERTs are equipped with 48 motorized boats and two hovercraft, which can be operated both in water and land and is considered most suitable for such kind of operations.

The PN has also deployed two helicopters in interior Sindh. Up till now, in 43 sorties, 440 stranded people have been rescued and five tons of ration distributed. Eight diving teams of Pak Navy have also carried out 24 diving operations in affected areas across Pakistan. The navy has also established 42 medical camps, in which 29,664 patients have been treated till date.

The Pakistan Air Force has also conducted 75 C-130, 81 MI-17, 34 AW-139 air sorties, rescuing 1,521 affectees. They have distributed 3,083 tents, 155,897 food packets, almost 1.3 million kg ration, 152,117 litres water, and established 19 tent cities accommodating 13,295 people. At least 50 relief camps and 41 medical camps have also been established. The latter have so far treated 35,780 patients.

Currently, the PAF is fully committed to Nawabshah, Sukkur, Mirpur Khas, Talhaar, Jacobabad, Sehwan and Perpatho in Sindh. In Baclochistan, it is looking after Samungli, Killa Abdulllah and Killa Saifulllah. In Punjab, Rajanpur and DG Khan. In Gilgit-Baltistan, it is focusign on Gilgit, Skardu, Ghizer, Naltar, Ganche. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Nowshera, Charsadda, Kheshgi, Saidu Sharif, Shangla, Laram remain the focused areas.

Weather forecast

The NFRCC stated that most parts of the country were going to experience hot and humid weather, with rain and thundershower at a few locations in K-P and G-B.

Read more UN preparing for worse to come in Pakistan floods

Similar weather was expected across the country on Thursday, September 8 and Friday September 9, with partly cloudy conditions in upper K-P, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), G-B and adjoining hills.

Major activity

The NFRCC further said that the construction of the Saggu bridge at N-95 in Dera Ismail Khan was underway and would potentially be completed by today.

The electricity supply was said to have been restored in Khuzdar, Balochistan, while repair work on the Dadu-Sibi-Quetta transmission line was in progress. Gas supply has partially been restored in the provincial capital of Quetta.

Several roads remained blocked across the country, including the N-95 (Behrain – Laikot - Laikot – Kalam), N-55 for all types of traffic at Paroa near DI Khan, N-50 for all types of traffic at Saggu Bridge and the M-8 which was blocked due to a landslide in Wangu hills.