Seven new deaths from rain-related incidents has raised the death toll in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since April 26 to 17, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority.

PDMA spokesperson Anwar Shahzad confirmed the death toll to Dawn.com today and said 23 were injured in different parts of the province.

Shahzad said that nine men, three women and five children were among the deceased whereas nine men, three women and 11 children were injured.

He said the Bajaur district of Malakand division was the most affected district where five people died, ten were injured and 20 houses were damaged.

The KP PDMA spokesman said that 116 houses were damaged due to landslides, roofs and wall collapses.

According to the PDMA report dated April 29, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, 148 cattle also perished in different areas of the province in the landslide and collapse of houses.

Four schools and nine other government infrastructures were damaged during rainfall since April 26.

Shahzad said that the districts most affected by the rain-related incidents were Bajaur, Swat, Mansehra, Battagram, Dir Lower, Malakand, Luki Marwat, Kohat, Orakzai, Shangla, Dir Upper, Mohmand, Buner, Chitral Lower, North Waziristan and Nowshehra.

“We have directed the district administrations of respective districts to be vigilant and continue relief activities in the rain emergency and provide shelters, and food timely if required anywhere in the province,” the PDMA spokesperson said.

National Highway Authority Deputy Director Ghulam Abbas told Dawn.com that the Karakoram highway (KKH) was blocked at Battagram’s Thakot and in parts of Kohistan and Diamer, adding that clearance work was underway to reopen it for traffic.

He said the artery was opened for traffic on Monday late at night and strandees managed to pass the landslide blockades but it was subsequently blocked again after heavy landsliding in the Diamer and Thakot areas.

Abbas added that the road would be opened for traffic in a few hours as the rain had stopped and machinery of the Frontier Works Organisation was at the field for clearing the road.

Separately, the KKH was blocked by women protesters who staged protests against the shortage of wheat and a power outage at Hunza.

Hunza local Muhammad Amen told Dawn.com that the women came out onto the road today demanding wheat and an end to the power outage which was causing problems for them.

He said the protest would continue until the demands were accepted by the government and issues resolved.

Opinion

Editorial

Errant ECP
Updated 22 Jan, 2025

Errant ECP

THE ECP has once again earned a detailed reprimand from the Supreme Court. That it still refuses to correct course is ominous
Fast-tracking M6
Updated 22 Jan, 2025

Fast-tracking M6

GRAND infrastructure projects in Pakistan often progress at the pace of a bullock cart rather than a bullet train....
Gwadar airport
Updated 22 Jan, 2025

Gwadar airport

THE air connectivity established by the inauguration of PIA flights between Karachi and Gwadar is a major step...
Trump 2.0
Updated 21 Jan, 2025

Trump 2.0

Few have forgotten how disruptive Trump could be as president. There has been little indication that his 2nd term will be any different.
GB’s status
21 Jan, 2025

GB’s status

THE demand raised by the people of Gilgit-Baltistan for constitutional clarity and provisional provincial status is...
Panda bond
Updated 21 Jan, 2025

Panda bond

ISLAMABAD’S plans to raise $200m from China’s capital markets through the inaugural issue of a Panda bond this...