Rain, flood continues to wreak havoc in KP, Punjab
Relief activities were initiated after the ongoing heavy rains and resulting floods caused loss of at least a hundred lives and widespread destruction across the country.
According to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at least 26,000 tents, 29,500 food packs, 500 blankets and 19,400 mosquito nets were distributed among rain and flood affected people across the country.
Seventeen relief camps have been set up in Punjab and one in Sindh where about one thousand and two hundred people are being provided shelter and food.
In all 333 villages and over eighty-four thousand people have been affected. About four thousand houses have been fully or partially damaged according to figures reported early on Thursday morning.
Punjab
Uninterrupted rain continued to lash twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi and raised the water in Nallah Lai to dangerous levels.
According to a spokesperson of Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi, the current water level in Nallah Lai at Katarian was recorded at 10.2 feet and at Gawalmandi it was recorded at 8.5 feet.
No loss has been reported as yet.
Heavy monsoon downpours inundated several roads and streets in some parts of Islamabad, Rawalpindi and adjoining areas on Wednesday.
Rains submerged Islamabad expressway as well and caused traffic jams. Water entered houses in parts of I-8 and G-6 sectors.
All nallahs in Islamabad were in flooded and residents in Rawalpindi also reported of a similar situation.
The spell of rain which began on Tuesday continued to in Lahore, submerging various areas of the city in water.
The rising water level in River Chenab has inundated about 12 low-lying villages in Wazirabad tehsil of Punjab’s Gujrat district.
Water entered some villages including Kotli, Behram, Pattoki, Ramgarh, Kot Ladha,and Taaliwala area where standing crops were damaged on Wednesday night.
Authorities had earlier issued flood warning to Kot Jaffar, Thathi Baloch, Tando Ali Sher village in Chak area and other nearby villages.
The local Meteorological department had forecast high flood level in the River Chenab which also included including Marala and Qadirabad areas.
High to very high flood level was also predicted in nullahs of the River Chenab (Bhimber, Bhundar, Halsi, Daulti, Aik & Palku) during the next 24 hours.
Low-level flooding was also reported at the River Sutlej as the water discharge at Gandasingwala rose to 63,300 cusecs, according to district flood control authorities.
The district administration said measures were in place for any rain-related emergency situation in the district.
Lawmakers from Kasur district, the DCO and other concerned officials inspected areas along the Sutlej and assured displaced people of all out cooperation.
Meanwhile, an irrigation official stated that increasing water in River Chenab was unlikely to affect Multan district adding that the situation would be more clear on arrival of water deluge at Taraimo headworks.
According to NDMA, so far 26,000 tents, 29,500 food packs, 500 blankets and 19,400 mosquito nets have been distributed among rain and flood affected people across the country.
Seventeen relief camps have been set up in Punjab and one in Sindh where about 1,200 people are being provided shelter and food.
In all 333 villages and over 84,000 people have been affected. About 4,000 houses have been partially or fully damaged.
Meanwhile, two persons were killed while another three received injuries in a clash during distribution of relief goods among flood-hit people near a police picket in Fatehpur area of Punjab’s Rajanpur district.
Police sources said, a quarrel broke out when relief items were being distributed at Fatehpur village.
A local influential allegedly opened fire at two persons killing them on the spot.
Another three persons also sustained serious injuries in the incident.
The attackers managed to escape from the scene.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Power and communication lines were damaged and crops stood flooded after the onset of rains.
The recent heavy rainfall during the past three days in cities across KP, from Swat, Haripur and Bannu to DI Khan and Lakki Marwat, has resulted in intensive damage across the northern province.
A total of 21 casualties have resulted from the heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding, with 13 seriously injured, according to figures provide by the NDMA.
The Disaster Management Committee said that three people were killed in Swat in the past three days alone.
About five buildings were completely destroyed whereas numerous homes were flooded with rain water.
In Haripur, a roof of a house crumbled under the weight of continuously pouring rain, killing four people on the spot and gravely injuring four others.
In Karak, heavy rains destroyed a house resulting in the death of a woman and a child.
One casualty was reported from the affected areas of D I Khan and another body was fished out of Gambila River in Lakki Marwat area.
Tangi Pull, the connecting bridge between Banu and Miramshah, was also greatly damaged due to the heavy rainfalls.
The River Indus was also reportedly flowing in medium flood near Attock area of the province.
The water level in the Swat River rose above Charsadda Road, flooding the area.
The NDMA distributed a total of 728 tents and 200 blankets among the flood victims of KP.
According to the Weather Services Department, the next 24 hours will most probably witness further thunderstorms in KP and surrounding areas.