PESHAWAR: At least 289 people were killed including 109 children and 348 others were injured so far due to floods and rain-related incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since June 15.

The devastating deluge and rains also completely damaged 35,123 houses while 52,327 were partially damaged across the province, according to a report compiled by Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).

Of the 289 people killed due to floods and rains, 139 are men, 109 are children and 41 are women. Among the injured, 139 are men, 130 are children and 79 are women.

Dera Ismail Khan is on the top of the list in terms of human losses by registering 35 deaths, followed by Swat where 34 persons lost their lives. In Mansehra, 22 persons were killed, Lower Dir and South Waziristan reported 17 deaths each, Karak and Mardan recorded 15 deaths each, Khyber 14,1 Bannu, Upper Kohistan,Lakki Marwat and Upper Dir here deaths, Mohmand and Swabi seven deaths each, Battagram and Upper Chitral six deaths each, Buner and Nowshera five deaths each and Hangu, Kurram and Upper Chitral reported three deaths each.

Report says casualties include 109 children; 35,123 houses destroyed while 52,327 partially damaged

Dera Ismail Khan also stood on the top of the list in terms of damage to properties.

The district recorded 31,367 fully damaged and 40,444 partially damaged houses. Similarly, 1662 houses were fully damaged in Tank, 303 in Khyber, 289 in Upper Dir, 209 in Lakki Marwat, 181 in Upper Chitral, 175 in Lower Chitral, 160 in Charsadda, 90 in Mardan, 88 in Swat and 66 in Nowshera.

During the rescue operations, PDMA along with other line departments including the respective district administration shifted 406,568 people to safe places before the flood could inundate their houses.

These departments also rescued 69,775 people in the flood-affected districts. Similarly, 674,348 people were displaced by floods. Relief items were provided to 226,389 people so far. Cooked food was provided to 856,782 people and dry food to 217,614 flood survivors.

The PDMA data shows that since June 15, floods and rains killed 10,801 cattle in Tank, 9,099 in Dera Ismail Khan, 103 in North Waziristan, 91 in Upper Kohistan, 40 in Upper Chitral and Khyber each, 34 in North Waziristan and 28 in Swat.

According to the PDMA report, 24 schools in the flood-hit areas were fully damaged and 466 were partially damaged. Of the fully damaged schools, 18 are in Upper Dir, five in Lower Dir and one in Upper Kohistan.

PDMA Director General Sharif Hussain told Dawn that they had so far provided family tents to 33,347 individuals, plastic mats to 25,670 people and tarpaulin sheets to 26,135 persons. Apart from it, 7,502 blankets, 6,463 kitchen sets, 7,607 hygiene kits, 6,951 water containers, 4,574 plastic mats, 681 life-saving jackets and 8,677 mosquito nets, 102 searchlights and 5453 pillows were distributed among the flood victims.

“PDMA has already released Rs1752 million to the relevant district administrations since July to deal with the emergency situation,” he said. As per policy, the fund can be utilised for compensation of the victims and relief activities.

The PDMA director general said that it was the top priority of the government to provide relief to flood victim and rehabilitate them.

“On the direction of Chief Minister Mahmood Khan all the relevant district organisations and line departments are working day and night to help the flood victims,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2022