12 killed in Upper Dir rain roof collapse

UPPER DIR:

Twelve people died in their sleep early Friday morning when the roof of their mud house collapsed due to heavy rains in Upper Dir, rescue officials said.

The family, including three women and a child, were sleeping when their house collapsed in the remote area of Patrak.

District Police Officer (DPO) Waqar Ahmed also confirmed the incident. He identified the deceased as Noshad Khan, Khan Bacha, Wali Rehman, their respective wives, and their children aged three to 22.

The Karakoram Highway was blocked after a landslide at Diamer. However, it was reopened for traffic on Friday.

"The landslide in Patrak completely destroyed the house, killing all 12 individuals inside," Bilal Faizi, a spokesman for the rescue service 1122, told AFP.

More than 300 people have died across the country in rain-related incidents since the start of the monsoon in July.

Most deaths have occurred in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, according to official figures.

"The deaths were a result of lightning, electrocution and collapse of mud or dilapidated houses," a statement from Punjab Disaster Management Agency said on Friday.

Balochistan

The Balochistan government has declared ten districts as calamity-hit following relentless heavy rainfall and flash floods that have wreaked havoc across the province.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has declared Ziarat, Kalat, Sohbatpur, Lasbela Awaran, Kachhi, Jaffarabad, Usta Muhammad, Loralai and Chaghi as the calamity hit districts.

The declaration comes in response to the severe weather conditions that have caused widespread damage to infrastructure, homes, and crops. According to the PDMA, the ongoing monsoon rains, which began on July 1, have led to significant loss of life and property.

In addition to the human toll, the floods have devastated agricultural lands, with 58,799 acres of crops affected.

The district administrations of the affected areas have been directed to take immediate steps to provide relief to the people. Efforts are underway to ensure the provision of food, shelter, and medical assistance to those impacted by the floods.

The Balochistan government is urging residents in the affected districts to remain vigilant and cooperate with local authorities during this challenging time. The declaration of these districts as calamity-hit is a crucial step in mobilizing resources and support to mitigate the impact of this natural disaster.

Pakistan experiences its monsoon season from July to August, typically receiving around 255mm of rain each month.