PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved Rs2.5 billion funds for relief and rehabilitation activities in the flood-hit areas of the province.

In this regard, a summary has been approved by the provincial cabinet. Besides, a letter has also been sent by establishment and administration department to relief and rehabilitation department to ensure implementation of the decision and furnish report to this end.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan termed provision of immediate relief to the flood victims and their rehabilitation top priority of government. He said that government would leave no stone unturned to provide relief to the flood victims.

He said that the flood victims were not alone as the provincial government stood by them. He said that all the available resources would be utilised for the rehabilitation of the flood victims. “As situation gets better, steps would also be taken to rehabilitate and repatriate the affected people,” he added.

CM says affected people will be repatriated as situation gets better

In the light of chief minister’s directives, relief and rehabilitation activities are under way in different flood-hit areas. So far 24 roads have been reopened and supply of electricity has also been restored from 35 feeders in Dir Lower. Similarly, 34 food packages and 60 tents have been distributed among the flood victims in the district.

The district administration of Dera Ismail Khan has provided food items to 76,000 households and dewatering operation is also in progress in the affected villages. The affected population is being shifted to temporary relief camps while the affected areas of Dera Ismail Khan are being rehabilitated.

Similarly, one kilometre of Karora-Ajmer road has been completely restored in Shangla district.

The district administrations of Peshawar and Charsadda are also providing assistance to the flood victims while a medical relief camp has also been established for the affected people.

Meanwhile, there is still a flood-like situation in parts of Mansehra district and administration through army’s helicopters has dropped food and other essential goods for 600 affected families in Dubair, Ranowali and Semor Dara areas.

Deputy Commissioner Ahmed said that Karakoram Highway was cleared and a damage assessment survey was also being finalised. “We have been facing difficulties in reaching the marooned pollution as link roads have been completely washed away,” he said.

Malakand Commissioner Shaukat Ali Yousafzai said that district administrations were taking rescue and relief measures in the flood-affected districts of the division.

He said that relief and rehabilitation activities were under way in Shangla; Chitral Lower and Upper; Dir Lower and Upper; and Swat. He said that food, medicines and other essential items were being provided to affected people.

He said that link roads and bridges were being restored. “Warehouses are being built in Madyan, Khawazakhela, Matta, and Mingora where food and non-food items will be stored for relief activities,” he added.

The Malakand commissioner said that assistance was sought from Pakistan Army Engineering Corps for installation of bridges on an emergency basis. He said that the services of the district administration, as well as army, other relief organisations, Rescue 1122, police and Levies were commendable in the rescue and relief activities.

Meanwhile, a two-storey house collapsed in Mota Khan area of Alpuri in Shangla district due to heavy rainfall, burying three children under the ruble.

However, the Rescue 1122 teams retrieved the children and shifted them to district headquarters hospital Alpuri. Two boys stranded in the Khan Khwar River were also rescued safely.

Deputy Commissioner Ziaur Rehman told journalists that relief and rehabilitation were started and flood victims were being provided with non-food items in their respective areas. He said that the partially damaged government buildings were also made functional.

Adviser to Prime Minister Amir Muqam visited flood-affected areas in Shangla on Sunday and promised that Rs1 million to be given to the heirs of those people, who lost their lives in the flash floods. He also met the people whose houses were damaged.

In Dir, district administration cleared Lajbok Dara road, Tauda China road and Utala Dherai road with the help of heavy machinery.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zubair Khan Niazi along with other officials visited the family in Shalkanai Khal that lost three children in a roof collapse incident the other day.

In Bajaur, several areas of hilly Barang tehsil have been cut off from rest of the district for the last several days as various link roads have been damaged by flood and landslide.

The residents of the area said that various localities of Gar Shamozi region of Barang teshil were disconnected from rest of the district for the last three days.

Meanwhile, Inspector General Frontier Corps (FC) South Maj Gen Mohammad Munir Afsar on Sunday visited flood-hit areas of Tank to review the relief operation.

He also visited the flood-affected area of Gara Baloch and also took aerial view of the flood-affected areas of Tank. He distributed ration and tents among the affected people.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2022