With around 323 dead and at least 150 people feared missing, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan’s mountainous province, is picking up the pieces after the catastrophic floods that swept through the region this past week.
This remains one of the deadliest flood seasons in Pakistan, with 657 lives lost nationwide since June 26. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned more heavy rain is to be expected in the coming weeks.
The NDMA also stated the monsoon rainfall had been 50 to 60 percent heavier than last year, with at least two or three more heavy rain spells to hit in September.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed members of his federal cabinet to personally supervise relief operations in the worst-hit KP province, reports Dawn.
Speaking at a news conference on Sunday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Asfandyar Khattak informed that rescue operations were underway and that five armed forces helicopters were at the disposal of the provincial government, and that the provincial government had released Rs1.5 billion ($5.2 million approximately) for relief activities.
He confirmed out of the initial release of Rs500m, the allocations included Rs150m for Buner, Rs100m for Mansehra, Rs50m for Bajaur, while 33 trucks of non-food items had reached Buner, eight had reached Swat, and seven had reached Bajaur, while additional supplies were also being dispatched to areas severely impacted the deluge.
KP alone accounted for 390 deaths, including 288 men, 59 children, and 43 women, since late June, highlighting this province as being particularly vulnerable to seasonal downpours and related hazards.