Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [Pakistan]The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government on Friday imposed a rain emergency in several districts, including Swat, due to flash floods triggered by heavy rains. Torrential rains have wreaked havoc in many parts of the province, killing at least 193 people, the Express Tribune reported. The rain emergency, imposed with immediate effect, will remain in force till August 30.
The Flood Forecasting Department (FFD) has warned of “high-level flooding” in tributaries of the Swat River. Apart from Swat, the flash floods have caused widespread destruction in Shangla, Mingora, Kohistan, Di I Khan, Kalam Valley, Hazara Division and other areas of the province. According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), at least 193 people died and 251 were injured due to rains and floods during the ongoing monsoon rains in KP, the Express Tribune reported.
Also read: Pakistan: 937 killed, 33 million affected by worst floods in decades
In addition, 19,748 houses, hotels and several buildings have been damaged in the province due to the floods, the PDMA said. Heavy rains and floods have killed at least 959 animals across the province in recent days.
To deal with the devastation caused by heavy rains, the PDMA has issued a letter to the district administrations of Swat, Lower Dir, Malakand, Mohmand, Charsadda, Mardan, Nowshera and Peshawar, instructing them to be on alert and take precautions. measures. Apparently former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan visited the flood-hit areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday to take stock of the situation.
In the wake of heavy floods across Pakistan, the Shahbaz Sharif government has launched an international appeal, seeking funds for relief and rehabilitation of flood-affected people across the country. The decision to reach out to the world was made during an emergency meeting on Tuesday to re-evaluate the damage caused by the floods and to apprise donors of the magnitude of the crisis.
Pakistan’s Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman admitted that Pakistan is not capable of handling the flood situation on its own. “Unprecedented torrential rains right now in Sindh, Balochistan, DG Khan is also at risk. There is no question of the provinces or Islamabad being able to face this magnitude of climate devastation on their own. Lives are at risk, and thousands more lives Homeless. International partners need to mobilize aid,” she tweeted.
The minister said that this is a humanitarian disaster of unprecedented monsoon proportions. Rahman said the provincial and federal governments were unable to deal with the situation due to the magnitude of the disaster and urged international partners to mobilize aid. This unprecedented emergency has come amid rising political tension in the country over a terrorism case registered against former Prime Minister Imran Khan.