Fatalities surge in K-P amid rain fury

At least ten people have lost their lives as heavy rains continue to lash large swathes of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Monday, bringing life to a standstill and rendering Karakoram Highway and other thoroughfares impassable due to landslides and flashfloods.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had issued a nationwide alert on Friday, cautioning against severe weather conditions expected to persist until April 29 (Monday).

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, ten people were killed and 14 others sustained injuries in different incidents of roof collapses caused by recent heavy rainfall in the province.

According to a report issued by the PDMA on Monday, several roads were damaged in Lower Chitral, Upper Dir, Mansehra and Upper Kohistan due to landslides and floods caused by heavy downpours in the province.

According to the report, 100 heads of cattle perished. At least 42 houses, four schools and six other buildings were also damaged in various incidents reported from Bajaur, Battagram, Mansehra, Buner, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Lower Chitral, Malakand, Mohmand, Nowshera, Orakzai, Shangla, Swat, Dir Upper and Lower due to widespread rainfall.

It said that Shishiko-Madaklasht road, Chitral-Garamchashma road, Ayun-Bumborate Bobash road were blocked in Lower Chitral while Chukyatan-Sheringal road, Shalgah-Bedami road, Thall Jandrai road, Bandai to Buchail road and Sheringal-Douangdara road were affected in Upper Dir.

Similarly, the link road to Bhandhian was washed away by heavy rainwater in Mansehra and KKH was blocked on both ways at RD-311 near Bodha bridge in Upper Kohistan.

The rains come at a time when crops are ready to be harvested, especially the wheat crop. Prolonged spells of rain have already delayed wheat harvest. Farmers have complained about an unprecedented rise in the cost of harvest, saying it has doubled compared to last year due to an increase in fuel prices.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2024.