Pakistan is once again battling severe floods. The meteorological department issued a warning on Sunday, predicting heavy rainfall throughout the country. Authorities indicate that the death toll from flash floods in the northern regions has reached 327. The monsoon rains, which started on June 26th, have caused widespread devastation, resulting in approximately 650 deaths.
The weather department has issued a warning for heavy rainfall across the country from August 17th to August 21st. People in the northwestern areas have been advised to take precautions. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned that the torrential rains, which began earlier than usual this year, are expected to continue with greater intensity over the next two weeks.
At least 327 fatalities occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to torrential monsoon rains and cloudburst-induced flooding, according to the NDMA. In Buner alone, the most affected district, more than 200 people have died. At least 137 individuals have been injured in house collapses. Swift floodwaters have swept away people, livestock, and vehicles.
Authorities have cautioned that many people are likely trapped in rubble in remote villages, with many others missing. Despite the deployment of roughly 2,000 rescue personnel, relief efforts are hampered by the destruction of major roads, including bridges and connecting routes.
Bilal Ahmed Faizi, the spokesperson for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rescue agency, reported that landslides and washed-away roads caused by heavy rainfall are obstructing rescue operations. It has become particularly challenging for heavy machinery and ambulances to reach the affected areas.
The Pakistani army’s ‘Corps of Engineers Urban Search and Rescue’ (USAR) team also initiated rescue operations in Buner, Shangla, and Swat. The team is utilizing advanced equipment to locate injured individuals and extract bodies trapped in the debris.