16 children among 29 killed in rain, snowfall spell

ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR/QUETTA:

At least 29 people, including 16 children, died during the current rain and snowfall-related incidents across the country with the highest number of fatalities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

At least 23 people, including 14 children, were killed while 34 others injured in K-P in various accidents during the spell.

Intermittent rain in Peshawar inundated low-lying areas, disrupting normal life. On the other hand, due to snowfall in the upper areas, these areas were disconnected from others.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, the work to open the closed roads has been started, but the continuous snowfall is causing the work to be hampered and slow down.

According to the statement, dozens of houses were damaged in the rains and snowfall, in which animals were also killed after being buried in the debris.

The PDMA stated that rain and snowfall was likely to continue as Peshawar recorded 56 millimeters of rain so far, adding that heavy rain and snowfall on the mountains of K-P continued.

According to the Meteorological Department, a series of rains and snowfall is likely to continue till Sunday (today).

Meanwhile, three people were killed when a landslide fell on the roof of a house in the Lower Dir area.

According to Rescue 1122, it was reported that four people were buried under the debris. While taking action, three bodies and one injured person were taken out and shifted to the hospital.

Among the dead were 25-year-old Zahid, son of Sher Maula, his 23-year-old wife, five-year-old Harira while three-year-old Arham Umar was injured.

According to Rescue 1122, three children died when the roof of a house collapsed due to heavy rain in the Bajaur area. As soon as the control room was informed, the disaster and medical teams reached the spot and started the rescue operation. Together with the local people, the children were pulled out of the wreckage.

According to a report by an aid agency in Malakand, the roof of a house near a graveyard collapsed as a result of recent rains, in which five people were buried under the debris.

The rescue teams took out Noor Rehman, his wife, 10-year-old Gulalai, seven-year-old Hora and five-year-old Mahnoor from the wreckage and shifted them to the hospital, where doctors pronounced the death of Rehman’s wife and Mahnoor.

Apart from this, it was reported that the roof of the house collapsed in the village of Aladhand Dheri Saro Koto, in which three women were buried under the debris.

The rescue officials took the three out and shifted them to DHQ Hospital, Batkhela. According to sources, the mother and daughter died due to the collapse of the house. It is reported that six people were injured in other incidents.

Meanwhile, a nine-year-old girl died and three children were seriously injured and shifted to the hospital due to the collapse of the roof of a room in the Takhtbhai area. In another incident, two girls died and as many were injured when the roof of the house of Sherzaman collapsed in the Sakhakot area.

Further, the Garam Chashma Road has been closed to all traffic due to the heavy snow, stranding around 40,000 people and cutting them off from other parts of Chitral.

Heavy snowfall continued in Chitral and its suburban areas throughout the night, with two to three inches accumulating in Chitral City since Thursday. Meanwhile, up to two feet of snow was recorded along the Loweri Tunnel Road. After two days of continuous rain, snow began falling across Upper and Lower Chitral districts. The snow has intensified the bitter cold, with markets unusually quiet and traffic sparse on roads. Authorities have warned residents to avoid unnecessary travel to steer clear of avalanches and landslides.

In the Kailash Valley areas of Bomburit, Barir Rambur, and Shekhanandeh, up to two feet of snow has accumulated. Over two feet of snowfall also hit Midgalshit, where avalanches have damaged the road in multiple locations.

Meanwhile, heavy rains, which have been continuing for the last one week across Balochistan, paralysed life in 22 out of 35 districts of the province.

An incident in Kharan resulted in the loss of three lives, two among them children.

The situation in Gwadar and Kech districts of Makran was the worst as hundreds of houses collapsed, rendering a large number of families homeless.

Makran and other districts were completely cut off from other parts of the province due to damaged highways and inter-district roads.

The non-stop rains also cut off rail and road links between Pakistan and Iran as railway tracks between Noshki and Dalbandin were washed away by floodwater and a bridge at Coastal Highway near Pleary area of Gwadar was damaged.

Further, traffic between Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan and Islamabad was suspended when heavy rains triggered landslides blocking the highway near the Dhanasar area of Sherani district of Balochistan.

Gwadar, experiencing heavy rain, faced challenges as the drainage system and rescue infrastructure were severely affected, prompting residents to seek safer locations.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Saturday announced the suspension of flight operations at Gwadar Airport until Tuesday.
According to a private news channel, the decision came in response to the flood situation in Gwadar, as stated by the CAA spokesperson.

A new notice has been issued, confirming the suspension of flight operations at Gwadar airport until Tuesday.
Earlier, the Balochistan government had declared a state of emergency and declared Gwadar a calamity-hit area following heavy rains that caused significant damage in the city.

In Sibi and nearby areas, heavy rains persisted for 14 hours, leading to rising water levels in rivers and canals.

The irrigation department issued a high alert, urging emergency rescue teams to be prepared for any unfortunate situation.

The heavy rain and snowfall sweep disrupted daily life and caused tragic incidents in various parts of Pakistan.

According to a private news channel report, from Lahore to Balochistan, Karachi, and the northern mountainous areas, the country faced a myriad of challenges due to the adverse weather conditions.

A day earlier, authorities declared a 'rain emergency' in Karachi as several parts of the province were in the grip of unpredictable weather.

In Lahore, light rain was reported in Gulberg, Lahore Cantonment, Lakshmi Chowk, and on Mall Road on Friday.

Johar Town, Defence, Canal Road, Thokar Niaz Baig, Wahdat Road, and surrounding areas also witnessed rainfall.

The cascade of rain extended beyond Lahore, with cities in Punjab such as Kasur, Muridke, Phoolnagar, Sharaqpur and Jhang experiencing downpours.

Tragically, the heavy rains proved fatal for three people in Kamalia, where a dilapidated house collapsed.

Additionally, northern mountainous areas, including Azad Kashmir, witnessed intermittent rain and snowfall, leading to a drop in temperatures.

However, the possibility of highway blockades due to snowfall and landslides looms large.

According to a statement issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department, as the country grapples with the unprecedented weather conditions, citizens were urged to exercise caution, and emergency services were on high alert to respond to any untoward situation.

Pakistan Army started rescue operations following the heavy snowfall in the areas around Lowari Tunnel, Kalam, Chitral and Malam Jabba.

The army's rescue teams remained active throughout the night, clearing snow from the roads and rescuing travellers trapped in snow-affected areas.

Moreover, essential supplies and medicines were being provided from nearby army camps.

(With input from app)