At least 88 people have lost their lives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) due to relentless monsoon rains since July 1st, according to a report released by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Saturday.
The ongoing rains have led to widespread devastation across the region, with the PDMA confirming that the fatalities include 43 children, 26 men, and 19 women. In addition to the tragic loss of life, 129 people have been injured, comprising 61 children, 39 men, and 29 women.
The authority also reported significant damage to property, stating that a total of 958 houses have been affected by the heavy rains. Out of these, 260 homes have been completely destroyed, while 698 have suffered partial damage.
This grim report comes a day after a massive landslide claimed the lives of 12 members of a single family, including nine children, in the Upper Dir district. The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday in the Maidan area of Upper Dir, adding to the growing list of casualties caused by the extreme weather.
Tourists Stranded in KP’s Kumrat Valley
The persistent rains have also disrupted the movement of tourists in KP, with dozens stranded in the scenic Kumrat Valley of the Upper Dir district. Assistant Commissioner Focal Person Shahid Ali informed Geo News that the trapped tourists have been confined to their hotel rooms for three days due to the adverse weather conditions. Efforts are currently underway to safely evacuate the tourists, with 50 to 70 individuals directed to move towards Jaaz Banda for safety.
The rehabilitation of the Dir-Kumrat highway at Barikot has begun, and the government is providing food and drinking water to the stranded tourists to ensure their well-being during this difficult time.
More Rain Forecasted Across Pakistan
Pakistan continues to be hit by heavy monsoon rains, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasting more widespread rain accompanied by windstorms across the country in the coming days. According to a statement released by the Met Office on Friday, heavy rainfall is expected in Sindh, northeast and south Balochistan, northeast and central Punjab, the Potohar region, Islamabad, KP, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and Kashmir within the next 24 hours.
The PMD has also warned that the persistent rains may trigger landslides in vulnerable areas such as Murree, Galliyat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Kashmir, and GB, further exacerbating the ongoing crisis.
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