Rescue teams recovered two more bodies from the Neel Ban Dheri Haleem area of Mansehra following a devastating cloudburst, raising the death toll to 16.
The disaster struck yesterday when heavy rainfall and flash floods hit the village on the Mansehra-Battagram border, destroying six houses, shops, and cattle sheds, and sweeping away 26 people along with livestock.
According to officials, nine bodies were initially retrieved from Shamlai Police Station's jurisdiction in Battagram, including six men, two women, and a child. Rescue 1122 teams, along with the district administration, TMA, police, volunteers, and residents, launched an immediate search for the missing.
By Friday night, 14 bodies had been recovered. However, the operation was suspended around 7:30 p.m. due to darkness and difficult terrain. It resumed at 6 a.m. Saturday, leading to the recovery of two more victims. Rescue authorities confirmed that the search and recovery operation is still underway to locate the remaining missing persons.
Governor visits Balakot
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Faisal Karim Kundi, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of hundreds of lives, large-scale destruction and the tragic crash of a provincial rescue helicopter that claimed five precious lives during relief operations following cloudburst-triggered floods across the province.
Speaking to journalists during his visit to Balakot on Saturday, the governor said the province is facing an emergency-like situation. "This is not the time for politics but for unity," he stressed.
Highlighting the scale of destruction, he urged that Malakand Division, which includes five severely affected districts, be declared a disaster-hit area. He emphasised that Mansehra district had suffered heavy human and material losses, and assured that victims would not be left alone in this difficult time.
"All political parties must come together to support rehabilitation efforts. While it may not be possible to fully compensate for the losses, both the federal and provincial governments stand with the people and will not rest until the victims are rehabilitated and able to return to their normal lives," the governor affirmed.
With additional input from APP
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