PESHAWAR: The floods triggered by the ongoing heavy monsoon rains killed at least 10 people and injured several and damaged dozens of houses and infrastructure in various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), four deaths were reported in Mardan district followed by two in Swabi and one each in Bajaur, Mohmand, Swat and Mansehra districts.

The PDMA warned that water levels would rise alarmingly in the Kabul River and its tributaries due to torrential rains in Sunday and Monday threatening public life and property in Nowshera and Charsadda districts.

It also alerted the relevant authorities to the possibility of downpour-induced floods and asked them to act to minimise damage.

PDMA issues alert about Kabul River flooding

The authority said heavy rains destroyed houses and infrastructure in Khyber, Buner, Swat and other districts of the province.

Meanwhile, three people, including a woman, were killed in roof collapse incidents in Mardan district’s Chakaropul Misriabad area on Saturday, the Rescue 1122 officials said.

The Rescue 1122 workers shifted bodies and the injured to the Mardan Medical Complex.

Also, a teenage boy drowned while swimming in the flooded Muhibanda stream. He was identified as Bilal, 16.

In Charsadda district, a minor girl was killed and five people, including two girls, injured in separate incidents as the continuing widespread rains ravaged houses and other public property. Many areas were inundated as streams overflowed.

Dozens of houses collapsed in Shabqadar tehsil, while rainwater flooded the main bazaar taking goods, motorcycles and cars along. Around industrial units reported damage by flash flood.

The Jendi River burst its banks inundating around 200 houses in Harbela area. Three brothers were injured when the roof of their house collapsed in the area.

Floodwater also swept away standing crops and cattle in Shabqadar.

Mansehra district recorded a child’s death in a roof collapse incident.

Mohammad Sohail, 7, was killed in Argoshal area early on Saturday after being buried under the debris of his house’s roof, which caved in due to heavy rain.

His mother suffered critical injuries and was shifted to a local hospital.

The residents said four houses and a girl school’s building also collapsed.

They said many cattle head perished in Dodial area after their pen caved in.

Torrential rains also caused land and mudslides in several areas blocking roads. The closure of roads was reported in upper parts of Hazara division as well.

The administrations in Mansehra, Torghar, Upper and Lower Kohistan and Kolai-Palas began surveys in their respective districts to assess rain-induced damage for compensation.

Two people drowned in floodwater in Swabi district.

Haji Mohammad, 32-year-old resident of Tarakai village, died after drowning in a flooded canal, while Yasir, 13, lost life by drowning in floodwater in Adina village.

The Rescue 1122 workers and residents failed to recover the body of five-year-old Arman Khan, who had drowned on Friday.

The heavy rain, which began on Saturday morning and continued for many hours intermittently, flooded roads disrupting traffic. Several mud houses caved in but no damage to public was reported. The rainwater also damaged standing crops.

The downpour also caused rivers and canals to swell besides blocking roads and suspending telecommunication services.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2022