K-P 'mini-cyclone' death toll rises to 44, leaves 200 injured

Nawaz approves Rs500,000 for the family of each person who died in K-P rains. Each injured person to receive Rs50,000

PESHAWAR: A severe storm in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), dubbed a "mini-cyclone", has killed 44 people and injured more than 200, officials said Monday, raising their previous death toll.

Intense rain and strong winds buffeted Peshawar and adjacent districts late Sunday, felling trees, causing dozens of roofs and walls to collapse and blocking many roads.

The injured include nearly 100 children, according to officials, while farmers have seen their produce badly affected.

"At least 44 people have been killed and 202 wounded. The storm followed by heavy rain and hailstorm has severely damaged wheat crops and orchards," Provincial Information Minister Mushtaq Ghani told AFP.

Ghani said that authorities were estimating the losses and expressed fear that hundreds of cattle have been killed.

Clearing himself of blame, the K-P information minister said the Met department under the federal government is responsible for the damage caused by rains.

“Met department doesn’t have the capacity to issue correct and timely weather advisory,” Ghani said.

Electricity was still suspended in Peshawar and in parts of Nowshera and Charsadda.

Ghani said at least 29 people were killed in Peshawar, 10 in Charsadda and five in Nowshera.

The injured were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar and district headquarters hospitals of Charsadda and Nowshera.

Read: Heavy rain claims up to 16 lives in Peshawar

Aamir Afaq, a senior official of the provincial disaster management authority, confirmed the death toll and told AFP that efforts were underway "to provide food, shelters and emergency medical services to the affectees".

An AFP reporter in Peshawar said rescue workers were removing fallen trees to open roads while engineers from mobile phone companies were repairing the towers.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, currently in London, through telephonic contact with Chairman National Disaster Management Authority directed him to expedite rescue activities in the rain affected areas.

On Monday evening, Nawaz approved a package worth Rs500,000 for the family of each person who died in K-P rains. Further, each injured person will receive Rs50,000.

Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Pervez Khattak directed management of the hospitals to provide proper health care to all the injured people.

Further President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Governor Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and leaders of different political parties have expressed deep sorrow over the lost lives.

PHOTO: AFP

The K-P government has announced compensation of five hundred thousand rupees for each family who have lost a family member in the storms. Similarly, each injured person will receive fifty thousand rupees.

Assessment will also be made to ascertain financial losses to compensate all the affected people.

Reham Khan visits Lady Reading Hospital

Reham Khan on Monday afternoon arrived at Lady Reading Hospital to assist in the treatment of victims who have suffered injuries from the storms.

According to Express News, she arrived without protocol and will also be speaking to victims and the injured.



Addressing the media, she confirmed that "a lot of the victims are female."

She requested the media to refrain from using pictures of young victims and injured persons as this can be distressing for the families.

Commenting on the preparedness for such disasters, Reham said that more efforts should be made to prepare for these natural disasters. "Global warming is taking place and in future we should be more prepared by planning ahead," she said.



She also added that "more measures should be taken as we (as a nation) are never prepared for such trauma."

Further, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan addressing media expressed grief and sorrow over the aftermath of the rains.

"We are doing everything we can to help all those affected by the storms," he said, adding that "the K-P government has been asked to assist with relief efforts."

He requested the government to provide help for the farmers as all the wheat crop had been destroyed.

He reiterated this by sharing a post on Twitter.

Am keeping myself updated by KP CM on Peshawar tragedy to ensure all assistance provided and measures taken to deal with the disaster.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 27, 2015

Rains have destroyed the wheat crop & Govt of Pakistan must compensate the poor powerless farmers, for this loss

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 27, 2015

Chief Minister K-P Pervez Khattak alerts relevant authorities

Following a 20-hour long absence following the rains, K-P Chief Minister Pervez Khattak addressed media and clarified that his absence was owing to a set of programmes he has to follow.

"I am neither a doctor, nor an administrator and can only do what is in my power," he said.

He assured that assessment was underway to determine the extent of damage caused and those houses which had fallen would be rebuilt.

He further confirmed that "all other ministers and people from my party were here."

“What if someone is present at the spot but things are not being managed properly,” Khattak questioned, adding he was monitoring the situation and was in close contact with the concerned departments as well as the health ministry.

Khattak added the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) was assessing the damages and collecting data of the houses collapsed adding the province was being run under a system.

Emergency had been declared in Lady Reading Hospital prior to the arrival of the minister.

"We have to run a system, I just can’t come to a hospital and sit here, I have to manage things and alert relevant authorities," he concluded.

Director General ISPR Asim Bajwa among others took to social media to express their sorrow and condolences for the families who have suffered great loss in the rains.

In wake of Psr rain/storm,rescue teams despatched to affected areas to assist civ admin.CMH put on alert,Drs present to treat the injured

— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) April 26, 2015

I express my deep sense of grief and sorrow on the loss of lives & damage done to property due to rains in #Peshawar

— Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) April 26, 2015

At least 26 killed after heavy rains in Pakistan's Peshawar At least 26 people were killed and more than 180... http://t.co/RtdfOVgc5K

— VOFN Pakistan (@vofnpakistan) April 27, 2015

District administration #Peshawar announces Rs. 5 Lakh for heirs of each person killed due to rains, Rs. 1 Lakh for injured. #HeavyRain

— Zahid Khawaja🌎 (@khawajaNNInews) April 27, 2015

May Lord bless our country with Peace. #PurAmnPak
With 44 killed, more rains forecast in Peshawar http://t.co/OYDrKibfx1

— UJCU (@UJCU_PK) April 27, 2015

With 44 killed, more rains forecast in Peshawar: PESHAWAR: At least 44 people were killed and more than 200 wo... http://t.co/PTt75LY2zM

— Fawad Ali Khan 🇵🇰🇹🇷🇳🇱 (@Utmanzval) April 27, 2015

@kkabbasi EQ also affected Peshawar and yes there is usually a link b/w EQ and rains. Cyclone in Pshwrhttp://t.co/TJIceCzGof@zubairabbasi

— Adeela Khalid (@adeelaz) April 27, 2015