PESHAWAR / ISLAMABAD: The second strong spell of the ongoing monsoon season has wreaked havoc across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and Punjab, leaving at least 12 people dead and 15 others injured in rain-related incidents, amid warnings that the death toll and property losses could rise significantly as the season has just begun.
According to initial reports compiled from rescue officials and now available with MM News, district administrations and media reports, flash floods, landslides and roof-collapse incidents have damaged houses, hotels, roads and bridges, while rivers and nullahs are flowing at dangerously high levels.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which remained the worst-hit province, heavy downpours triggered flash floods in Khyber district, where several vehicles were swept away and the Pak-Afghan Highway was submerged at multiple points, severely disrupting traffic and trade movement.
In Kaghan Valley, a heavy landslide at Sahuch blocked the Naran-Jalkhad Road for all types of traffic, leaving a large number of tourists stranded at various locations, officials said. Continuous rains also washed away three link bridges in the valley, while several houses and hotels sustained damage.
The water level in the Kunhar River has been rising steadily, raising alarm in low-lying areas along its banks, with the administration urging residents to remain vigilant.
In Mardan, two children were killed and a woman and a girl injured when the roof of a house collapsed during heavy rain. Rescue 1122 teams shifted the injured to a nearby hospital.
In Azad Kashmir’s Neelum Valley, a severe flood in Katha Piran Nullah triggered panic as fast-moving waters carried large boulders into adjoining areas. No casualties were reported in the incident till filing of this report, but authorities said assessment was still underway.
In Punjab, monsoon currents have significantly increased flows in major rivers. In Wazirabad, the district administration issued an evacuation alert for settlements along the Chenab River, directing residents to move to safer places as water levels continued to rise. A low-level flood warning has also been issued at Chiniot.
Meanwhile, rain in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and other plain areas of the province turned the weather pleasant, with citizens seen enjoying the showers. However, district administrations and WASA have advised people living in low-lying and flood-prone areas to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary movement near drains and nullahs.
Officials cautioned that these are only initial estimates, and the actual scale of human and material losses could be much higher, as rescue teams were still unable to access several remote and cut-off areas, and the monsoon has only just started lashing the country.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast further heavy rains, landslides and urban and flash flooding in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan till July 24. The department has directed all relevant agencies, including NDMA, PDMAs and district administrations, to remain on high alert and asked citizens to avoid travelling to hilly areas during the forecast period.
NDMA has also advised tourists to check weather advisories before travelling to northern areas.
