Fourteen people were killed and over a dozen mini-dams along with scores of buildings collapsed in different parts of Chakwal as torrential rains wrecked havoc in the district on Thursday.
At least 233 people have died and 168 others injured across the country due to destruction caused by recent monsoon rains and urban flooding, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
At least 233 people have died and 168 others injured across the country due to destruction caused by recent monsoon rains and urban flooding, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
According to the data, 91 people were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), 84 in Sindh, 19 in Balochistan, 16 in Punjab and 10 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) as a result of rains and floods since June 15 whereas in Gilgit-Baltistan, 11 people were killed.
The authority further said 25 women, 96 men and 37 children were also injured.
The rains also damaged at least 10 major roads, 10 bridges, two hotels, three shops, five mosques and six powerhouses across the country while 1,340 houses were completely damaged and 1,040 houses were partially wrecked.
On September 3, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported that at least 23 people have died, and 34 sustained injuries following heavy monsoon rains in KP. Recent spells of monsoon rains also caused death and destruction in many areas of Sindh, including Karachi.
Meanwhile, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) on Saturday paid rich tribute to the COVID martyrs, with regards to Martyrs Day, who rendered the sacrifices of their lives during the outbreak of coronavirus and resolved to provide every sacrifice to defeat the pandemic. The forum paid homage to the healthcare workers, law enforcement agencies’ professionals and workers of various departments who breath their last serving the Coronavirus affected patients. It made special prayers for the martyrs and resolved to bring all out resources for coping with the pandemic and ensuring protection of the masses from the fatal virus. It added that no restrain would be made from making any sort of sacrifice both in men and material to overcome the COVID-19 contagion.
“Thirteen people have died in different areas in rain-related incidents,” Deputy Commissioner retired Captain Abdul Sattar Esani told Dawn.
In Lakhwal village, three sisters and their brother lost their lives while their two other sisters sustained injuries as they were buried under the debris of a room when it collapsed. The five sisters and their brother were sleeping in the room when the incident occurred. The deceased were identified as Kainat, 20, Mahtab, 17, Aiza, 10, and Darain, 14.
Nadia, 24, and her nine-year-old sister Taskeen sustained injuries. The three sisters and their brother were buried on Friday evening.
DC Esani and Assistant Commissioner Muzaffar Mukhtar attended the funeral prayers and offered their condolences to the father of the deceased.
A man and his nephew and another man were killed in separate incidents of building collapse in Talagang.
A child and two women lost their lives in Dhoke Mait near Gugh village after the roof of their house caved in.
In another incident, a political worker, Malik Sultan Khan, a resident of Nurpur in Talagang, was swept away by raging water at Ankar Bridge as he was busy in making a video of the flooding. His body was recovered near Kotehra village.
A woman was also killed in Nain Sukh and another in Bikhari Khurd village due to collapse of buildings.
Moreover, Zille Abbas, 22, drowned in Kot Raja Dam.
Meanwhile, over a dozen of mini-dams built by farmers collapsed in different areas, intensifying the flash flooding. Four of these dams were located in Fim Kassar, two in Lakhwal and one each in Jaithal, Siral, Munday, Odherwal and Dhakku. Graves also collapsed in some areas due to the heavy rains and people were seen repairing them on Friday.
DC Esani said five relief camps had been set up in different areas of the district to provide shelter and food to the affected people.
“For the time being, our entire focus is on rescue and relief activities. After the situation gets settled, a detailed survey to assess the damage caused by the torrential rain would be conducted.”
Rawalpindi
The rains created a slushy mess and water logging in low-lying areas of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Friday.
However, the Met Office predicted hot and dry weather in most parts of the country. Rain-thundershowers are expected in northeastern Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.
“Monsoon currents are penetrating northeastern and southern parts of the country. A westerly wave is also present over northwestern parts of Pakistan,” said an official.
He said some parts of the Potohar region, including Rawalpindi and Islamabad, will receive rain.
The Meteorological Department recorded 18mm of rain at Saidpur, 25mm at Zero Point, 18mm at Golra, 21mm at Bokra and 137mm at the airport in Islamabad and 56mm at Chaklala and 51mm at Shamsabad in Rawalpindi.
The rain lashed the twin cities at midnight and in the afternoon on Friday. Due to the rain, water accumulated on the main roads and streets of low-lying areas.
The affected areas included Rawal Road, Jhelum Road, Sadiqabad, Burf Khana Chowk, Misrial Road, Ratta, Dhoke Mangtal, Ganjmandi, Hamilton Road, City Saddar Road, Ghazni Road and adjoining areas.
“The water level did not increase in Leh Nullah at Gawalmandi and Kattarian bridges. The nullah swelled to 18 feet on August 14 and after this the water level remained normal,” said Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Managing Director Raja Shaukat Mehmood.
He said all main roads had been cleared of rainwater and the water sucker machines had been installed in and around the low-lying areas.
