CHARSADDA: Authorities in Charsadda have issued an urgent alert due to the rising water levels in the Kabul River with fears of flooding in the region. Local administration and police are on high alert as they prepare for potential flooding.
As an attempt to save their life, local authorities have announced that citizens should leave their homes immediately and shift to safe zones to save themselves from danger. This message is being conveyed via announcements at mosques throughout the city.
Emergency rescue teams have been formed by the local authorities and will assist in the evacuation of the citizens as well as cater to their safety requirements. Police forces are also present in the city to guide the citizens to a safe location.
The residents have been requested to stay vigilant and follow the directions provided through the local media as well as other channels of communication. Every possible measure is being undertaken to save the citizens of the city from this imminent danger.
Heavy showers continue across multiple areas nationwide
Earlier, parts of the country, including the federal capital, Islamabad, experienced heavy rainfall on Tuesday, which continued while this report was being written, resulting in cooler weather.
A fresh spell of torrential rain coupled with strong winds started on Monday late at night and continues for the second consecutive day on Tuesday.
Islamabad and nearly all regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have received rainfall. However, reports of landslides have emerged from the upper northern areas of KP and Gilgit-Baltistan, leading to road blockages at several locations. This new wave of rain has also returned cold weather to the northern regions of the country, with snowfall recorded in the mountainous areas of KP and GB.
The rain continued to pour in Islamabad, restricting public movement; however, families were seen visiting eateries to enjoy fast food, Chapli Kebab, and other warming dishes.
Casualties in rain-related incidents
The heavy rains that have been ongoing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the past two weeks have wreaked havoc. A total of 47 people have died due to roofs and walls collapsing as a result of the rains, while 117 have been injured, and 98 houses have been destroyed.
According to the report issued by the PDMA on the loss of life and property, 21 people have died, and 40 people have been injured due to the rains that have been ongoing for the past four days.
The total number of deaths includes 27 children, 13 men and 7 women, while the injured include 45 men, 21 women and 51 children.
A total of 652 houses have been damaged due to the rains. In which 554 houses were partially destroyed, while 98 houses were destroyed. These incidents occurred in various districts of the province, including Bannu, Abbottabad, Mardan, Bajaur, Hangu, Mohmand, Kohat, North Waziristan, Peshawar, Khyber, Nowshera, Dera Ismail Khan, Karam, Lakki Marwat, Shangla, Battagram, Lower Kohistan, Mansehra, Torghar, Swat, Upper Dir, Charsadda, Buner, Malakand, Lower Dir, Orakzai, South Waziristan and Tank.
PDMA, Rescue 1122, district administration and related agencies are in touch with each other and relief activities are ongoing. PDMA has dispatched relief supplies to the affected districts. The administrations of the affected districts have been directed to provide relief supplies to the affected people as soon as possible.
This series of rains in various districts of the province is likely to continue till April 9.
Due to the rains, there is a risk of low to moderate flooding at the Kabul River and Nowshera, while there is also a risk of flooding in the rivers and canals connected to the Kabul River.
