Two baby girls killed in Swabi rainstorm

At least two people tragically lost their lives in rain-related incidents across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Wednesday.

In Swabi district, two children were killed last night, and six others sustained injuries during a severe rainstorm that struck the area.

According to local residents, the heavy downpour caused the roof of a room in Parmoli area to collapse. The room belonged to Wali Muhammad and his family, who were sleeping when the rain started.

The immense pressure from the standing rainwater caused the mud room’s roof to give way. Tragically, two young sisters, Sana (4) and Anaba (2), lost their lives in the incident, while their parents and two siblings were critically injured and trapped beneath the debris.

Swiftly responding to the emergency, local residents initiated a rescue operation and alerted Rescue 1122, which promptly dispatched their team.

The injured family members received first aid on-site before being transferred to Kalu Khan Hospital for further medical treatment.

In a separate incident in Razmak area, a motorcar was swept away by flash floods, leading to the drowning of the driver, Azizullah. After hours of intensive search operations, Rescue 1122 recovered his body.

The rain also wreaked havoc in Kohat district, causing the roof of a dairy farm to cave in. Additionally, medium floods were observed in the streams of Gumbad area due to the heavy rainfall.

Recognizing the potential risks and challenges associated with the upcoming monsoon season, the K-P Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued pre-monsoon rain relief guidelines to ensure the safety and well-being of the people across the province. These guidelines were communicated to all district administrations and relevant institutions.

The guidelines emphasized several precautionary measures, including avoiding proximity to electric or telephone poles during thunderstorms, staying away from seasonal drains, bridges, and drainage canals, and refraining from attempting to cross them during rainfall.

Travelers and tourists were advised to consider weather conditions while planning their trips.

The notification further urged district administrations to promptly share information about untoward incidents with relevant institutions.

Civil Defense and Rescue Services, including Rescue 1122 and the Fire Brigade, were instructed to remain vigilant.

Additionally, emergency response personnel and equipment were to be made readily available during the Eid holidays.

Residents living near landslide-prone areas were advised to exercise extra caution, while local administrations and disaster management authorities were instructed to keep their emergency operation centers active and prepared to respond swiftly to any untoward incidents.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2023.