BANNER, Pakistan (AP) – Rescue personnel from northwest Pakistan expanded rescue operations on Sunday Flash floods killed more than 220 people In a single district, authorities said.
Buner, a mountainous region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was hit by the downpours of Cloudbursts and Gonsoon on Friday, causing flash floods and landslides.
Buner emergency services spokesman Mohammad Sohail said more than half of the district’s damaged roads have been reopened, allowing vehicles and heavy equipment to reach isolated villages.
The crew cleans up piles of rocks and mud that have been dumped in the flood. They used heavy machinery on Sunday to remove the tile bleeds of the fallen house after the family reported that some of the family were missing.
In one of the most fatal incidents, 24 people from one family died in the village of Kadalnagar when the flood swept the house on the eve of the wedding. The head of the family, Umar Khan, said he had survived the flood because he had left the house at the time. Four of his relatives have yet to be found, he added.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandhapur visited the banner on Saturday and announced that families of the dead will receive a payment of Rs 2 million ($7,200) each. He said tents, food and clean drinking water are being provided to prevent the outbreak of waterborne diseases.
According to a government statement, Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif is monitoring relief efforts, ordering faster distribution of aid, evacuation of marginalized people and increased searches for missing people.
Pakistan’s Disaster Management Bureau warned of more confiscations and possible landslides between August 17th and 19th, urging local governments to remain vigilant. Monsoon rain is higher than normal It has attacked the country since June 26th, killing more than 600 people.
Pakistan is extremely vulnerable to climate-related disasters. 2022, Record Monsoon It killed nearly 1,700 people and destroyed millions of homes.
The country also suffers from regular flash floods and landslides from June to September, particularly during the rough northwest monsoon season.
Experts say Climate change is intensifying Frequency and severity of such extreme weather events in South Asia.
In India-controlled Kashmir, heavy rain caused flash floods in two villages in Katua district, killing at least seven people and injuring five overnight, officials said. Rescue and relief efforts are underway.
In the Kishtwar district, The team continues their efforts in a remote village in Chositilooking for dozens of missing people after the area was hit by flash flood three days ago. At least 60 people were killed and about 150 were injured in serious conditions.
A flood occurred on Thursday during the annual Hindu pilgrimage. Authorities rescued more than 300 people and about 4,000 pilgrims were safely evacuated.
