200 tourists rescued from Kumrat Valley as heavy rains cause widespread damage in K-P

K-P govt official says operation supported by local police and district administration

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority has confirmed the successful rescue of 200 tourists stranded in Kumrat Valley, located in the Upper Dir district. 

The tourists were found in various locations including Dojangla, Kala Chesma, and Abshar, and have since been transported to the Grand Palace Hotel. From there, arrangements are being made to move them to Kalam.

The authority’s spokesperson assured that all necessary provisions, including food and essential services, are available to the rescued individuals. The operation has been supported actively by the local police and district administration. 

This successful rescue operation follows a tragic incident where 13 family members lost their lives when their roof collapsed under the weight of heavy rains in Maidan tehsil, Upper Dir.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported on August 28 that the current monsoon spell has resulted in 74 fatalities and 128 injuries across the province from July through late August. Additionally, 906 homes have been damaged due to rain-related incidents over the past two months.

Recent heavy rains from July 29 to August 1 led to 24 deaths and 17 injuries in the province. On August 17, a local government official was tragically swept away by strong currents in a nullah in Swabi, and a young boy lost his life in Bannu due to a wall collapse caused by flash floods that affected several districts of K-P.

Pakistan’s monsoon season, typically spanning from July to August, usually brings about 255 millimetres of rain per month. However, the monsoon of 2022 brought unprecedented damage, with over 75,000 homes destroyed and another 130,000 partially damaged in K-P alone, according to government and international aid reports.