Heavy rains, flash floods claim 181 lives in KP; emergency imposed

Torrential rains and the ensuing floods killed above 144 people and inundated several villages in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Emergency has been imposed in the flood-hit areas of the province and many flood-affected areas have been declared 'calamity-hit'. Heavy rains wreaked havoc in the province while the flash flood disrupts Khyber Pakhtunkhwas communication with Punjab through GT Road. The rain nullahs and rives flooded as a result of which several houses collapsed and scores of people died. The floods submerged some 500 houses of Budhni and Camp Korona areas of Peshawar, while 40 houses of Chanar Colony, Mingora deluged. Two girls died in separate incidents of roof collapse in Kohat and Matni Afghan Mohajir Camp, while lightning claimed a father and son in Chagam. So far, heavy rains and flood claimed 19 lives in Shangla, 5 in Nowshehra, 3 in Karak, 5 in Swat, 2 in Dera Ismail Khan, 2 in Tank whereas scores went missing. The connecting bridges swept away in Peshawar, Swat and other areas disrupting the areas communication from other provinces. Army has been called in and emergency has been imposed and the people are being shifted to safer places. In Upper Dir areas, dozens of houses, 21 link bridges, 13 schools, and thousands acres of lands washed away in flood, causing at least 1200 people to get trapped on various places. In Lower Dir also, the persistent downpours triggered floods, which took away eight people and six link bridges were washed away. In Charsadda, hundreds of houses collapsed as a result of rains and floods. The current heavy rains in the catchment areas of major water reservoirs have increased the level at Tarbela and Mangla dams. The Mangla dam is almost filled to its capacity while the water level in Tarbela dam is recorded at 1515 feet which is 137 feet above from its dead level of 1378 feet. Water inflow was recorded as 170,188 cusecs in the Mangla dam while outflow was recorded as 47,045 cusecs. The inflow and outflow of water in the Tarbela dam was recorded as 459,000 and 358,300 cusecs respectively. National Disaster Management Authority chairman Lt Gen. (R) Nadeem Ahmed said that special boats of Pakistan Navy have been taken to flood-hit areas. He said that relief goods will be landed in Risalpur, from where, these goods will be transferred to the affected areas. He said that bad weather is delaying relief process. PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said that Mian Nawaz Sharif has asked the party workers to help those affected by flood and rains. He said that party with the help of local administration of the flood-hit areas is working to supply food and provide shelter to homeless people. He said that extreme weather conditions are difficult to handle and it is also difficult to manage in developed nations.