The first spell of monsoon rains has caused deaths, injuries and widespread damage in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, with authorities warning citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from sensitive tourist areas.
According to PDMA reports, at least seven people, including four children and one woman, have died in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the last 48 hours due to lightning, strong winds, heavy rain and flash floods.
Nineteen people were injured, including seven men, one woman and 11 children.
Houses and infrastructure damaged
PDMA said 38 houses were damaged across the province, including two that were completely destroyed and 36 that were partially damaged.
The affected districts include Khyber, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Mardan, Shangla, Bajaur and Lower Chitral.
Relief activities are underway in the affected areas, while PDMA, Rescue teams and district administrations are conducting search, rescue and damage assessment operations.
Lightning and roof collapse incidents
In Akakhel, Khyber Bara, two children died and three others were injured due to lightning strikes. In Lower Kurram, a mother and her child died while one person was injured when the roof of a house collapsed.
In Buner, one person died due to lightning.
In Lower Chitral, 27 houses were affected by flash floods triggered by heavy rain and cloudburst. The floodwater also damaged two mosques, two shops and a bridge, while four vehicles and motorcycles were also affected.
In Yarkhon and Mastuj areas of Upper Chitral, flash floods damaged one house, irrigation schemes and canals.
Two roads closed by flash floods in Lower Chitral have been restored for traffic.
PDMA issues safety advisory
PDMA has directed district administrations in affected areas to speed up relief operations and provide immediate assistance and relief goods to victims.
The authority said its Emergency Operation Center has been fully activated.
Citizens have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from vulnerable tourist spots and follow alerts and advisories issued by government agencies.
People can contact PDMA’s free helpline 1700 for weather updates, information and reporting any emergency.
Punjab also reports rain-related casualties
In Punjab, two people were killed and nine others injured in rain and storm-related incidents during the last 24 hours, according to Rescue Punjab.
Various districts were affected by the collapse of walls, roofs and signboards. In Attock, two people died and three were injured after a wall collapsed.
One person was injured in a lightning strike in Khushab. In Sargodha, one person was injured after a signboard collapsed due to strong winds.
In Sheikhupura, one person was injured when a wooden roof collapsed.
Rescue Punjab said teams immediately shifted the injured to hospitals and urged citizens to take precautionary measures during monsoon rains.
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