11 killed in rain-related incidents in K-P

Five of a family perish in roof collapse in Charsadda

PESHAWAR:

At least 11 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in the past 24 hours.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) five members of one family died when the roof of their house collapsed during torrential downpour in Charsadda district last night.

The victims included a man, a woman and three children.

On the other hand, one person was killed when hit by lightning in Dir Upper.

In yet another tragic incident, five people were killed when a building was hit by lightning in Rustam Mardan. The building caught fire, burning five people to death alive.

Due to the rain on Friday night, one house was completely destroyed while another one sustained partial damage.

It may be recalled that since July 1, a total of 107 people have been killed and 146 people have been injured in various accidents due to monsoon rains.

A total of 977 houses have been affected so far due to rains and flash floods, of which 262 houses have been completely destroyed.

On the other hand, PDMA has directed the concerned district administrations to speed up relief operations in the affected areas.

It has also provided financial support and relief materials to the administration of the affected districts for relief activities.

PDMA, relevant institutions and relief teams are engaged in rescue activities in the affected areas and all the stake holders are coordinating closely.

PDMA's Emergency Operation Center is fully operational and public, tourists can contact 1700 for any untoward incident, weather conditions, road closures and guidance.

In July, PDMA unveiled the Monsoon Contingency Plan 2024, a comprehensive strategy aimed at minimizing disaster risks and facilitating a coordinated and timely response.

It actively engaged district administration, provincial and federal line departments, and humanitarian partners in developing this plan, incorporating valuable lessons learned from previous incidents.

The primary objective is to mitigate the impact of disasters and safeguard the lives and livelihoods of the people residing in the province.

According to the Monsoon Plan 2024, 11 districts, including Chitral Upper, Chitral Lower, Swat, DI Khan, , Charsadda, Nowshera, Shangla, Dir Upper Dir Lower, Tank and Peshawar are identified as highly flood risk.

Additionally, 14 other districts, Malakand, Tor Ghar, Kohistan Lower, Kohistan Upper, Kolai Palas, North Waziristan, Mardan, Abbottabad, Karak, Buner, South Wazirstan , Laki Marwat, Swabi, and Mohmand are classified as medium to flood risk during the season.

Floods have been an ongoing issue, particularly in lowland areas, resulting in waterborne diseases, loss of human and livestock life, and damage to infrastructure.

The Monsoon Plan 2024 addresses this concern through a comprehensive flood risk management approach that encompasses prevention, mitigation, preparedness, emergency response, and recovery measures. Prevention measures focused on discouraging construction in current and future flood-prone areas, adapting future developments to flood risks, and promoting appropriate land-use and agricultural practices. Mitigation strategies include structural and non-structural measures aimed at reducing the likelihood and impact of floods in specific locations.

Preparedness efforts aim to educate the population about flood risks and provide guidance on appropriate actions during a flood.