PESHAWAR: Ten more people, including nine children, were killed in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the aftermath of the torrential rains as the provincial government imposed emergency in 13 districts for provision of relief, restoration of damaged communication networks and water supply.

Six children were killed in separate incidents in Lower Dir district.

On Monday night, a roof collapse killed two children and injured three others in Sakhawono village of Asanbar, Lower Dir. Separately, two minors drowned in Malala Khazana area while swimming in a stream, and another minor drowned in Gosum area of Jandol tehsil.

On Tuesday, the district administration rehabilitated the damaged Timergara-Peshawar Road at Shamshi Khan Talash and restored one-way traffic on it. The communication and works department also restored traffic on the Talash bypass road, while Kharkay Miskini Dara road was also cleared for vehicular traffic.

Provincial government declares emergency in 13 districts

Similarly, a woman with her 12-year-old son died after their house was struck by a landslide in Jorakh Dehrai area of Alpuri, Shangla.

Shangla deputy commissioner Ziaur Rehman confirmed the deaths of a woman and her minor son in Jorakh Dehrai area and said both the bodies had been recovered from the river after they were swept away by floods when their house was hit by a landslide.

The district administration said over a dozen houses were damaged in rains.

Elsewhere, two minor girls were killed in a roof collapse in Kohbi area of Shabqadar tehsil of Charsadda district on Monday night.

Meanwhile, the provincial relief, rehabilitation and settlement department has also imposed emergency in 13 districts till April 30 for provision of relief, restoration of damaged communication networks and water supply.

The districts where the emergency has been imposed include Lower and Upper Dir, Swat, Kolai Palas Kohistan, Mohmand, Bajaur, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, Lower and Upper Chitral, Khyber, Peshawar and Charsadda.

Also, the KP government decided to postpone three secondary school certificate papers scheduled for April 18, 19 and 20 due to the recent torrential rains.

Minister for elementary and secondary education Faisal Tarakai said the decision was taken at meeting of the educational boards’ chairpersons. He said the exams for the postponed papers would be rescheduled.

On the other hand, a statement issued from the chief minister’s secretariat stated on the directives of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, relief activities were in full swing in the rain-hit districts.

It said Provincial Disaster Management Authority had dispatched relief packages for Swat, Mohmand, Peshawar, Lower Chitral, Lower Kohistan and other affected districts. Relief supplies included tents, blankets, kitchen sets, hygiene kits, mosquito nets, mattresses and other necessary items.

Apart from this, Rs30 million compensation has been disbursed among the rain-hit people in different districts on the directives of the chief minister.

Meanwhile, continuous rains damaged roads and bridges in parts of Bannu district, officials said on Tuesday.

They said the downpour also flooded rivers and partially damaged four houses. However, no human loss was reported from any part of the district.

They said minister for public health Eng Malik Pakhtoonyar Khan along with divisional commissioner Parweiz Sabatkhel and deputy commissioner Shah Saud inspected Kurrum Bridge, Kasey Kallay Bridge and a portion of road near the new vegetable market damaged by flash floods.

Mr Pakhtoonyar told the officials that Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had assured him of provision of funds as he had brought the rain-related losses into his notice.

He directed the officials of the communication and works department and National Highway Authority to carry out repair and rehabilitation work on the damaged roads and bridges.

Also on Tuesday, divisional commissioner Parweiz Sabatkhel chaired a high-level meeting at his office to discuss rain and flood-related losses to infrastructure and formulate a strategy to protect roads and bridges from flash floods.

Meanwhile, Rescue 1122 workers pulled out a herd of animals from flash floods in Kotka Behram Shah area of Bannu.

An official said a team of rescuers was dispatched to the locality when the control room received information about the incident.

He said a herd of goats was grazing in the area near the river when flash floods entrapped them.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2024