Intermittent Rain and Flash Floods Ravage Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province
The Met Office has issued a warning predicting that intermittent rain and flash floods will continue to wreak havoc in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province until July 28. The forecast indicates that there will be scattered to widespread wind, thunderstorm-rainfall, and isolated heavy falls in most districts of the province over the next 24 to 48 hours.
The heavy rainfall poses a significant risk of urban flooding in low-lying areas such as Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Charsadda, D I Khan, and Bannu. Additionally, there is a danger of landslides in vulnerable areas including Swat, Chitral, Dir, Shangla, Kohistan, Battagram, Torghar, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Kurram, and Khyber districts.
Flash flooding is also a concern in the aforementioned districts, as heavy rain is expected to trigger rapid floods that can cause widespread damage and pose risks to lives and properties.
Over the past 24 hours, several areas have already experienced substantial rainfall. Timergara recorded the highest rainfall with 65mm, followed by Malam Jabba with 64mm and Kakul with 61mm. Other affected areas include Pattan (38mm), Balakot (37mm), Saidu Sharif (16mm), Dir (9mm), Bannu (3mm), and Mirkhani (2mm).
The heavy downpour has had severe consequences in Hazara division, where three days of continuous rainfall have paralyzed life in the upper parts of the region. Rivers and streams have flooded, resulting in urban flash floods, landslides, and disrupted traffic. Localities affected include Abbottabad, Manshera, Battagram, and Kohistan.
The adverse weather conditions have caused significant damage to infrastructure. Roads, including an eight-kilometer stretch of the Karakoram Highway (KKH), have been washed away or blocked by landslides. Electricity transmission lines have also been damaged, leading to power outages in various areas.
In Oghi city, urban flash floods have wreaked havoc, causing substantial financial losses to residential and commercial buildings. Mansehra city has been severely affected as well, with Tariq road rendered unusable due to flooding, and the Nadeem bridge, a 60-year-old structure, damaged and blocked.
Agricultural activities have also suffered from the heavy rainfall and resultant floods. Several dairy farms have been damaged, resulting in the loss of numerous cows, goats, and other livestock. Moreover, Tehsil Baffa has experienced destruction, with standing maize crops destroyed and floodwater entering residential areas.
The district administrations, along with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), have issued alerts, advising people to avoid unnecessary travel during this monsoon heavy rain spell.
Efforts are underway to mitigate the impact of the floods, with relief supplies being dispatched to flood-hit areas. In Lower Chitral district, the PDMA has sent a consignment of essential items, including food, medicines, family-size tents, sandbags, emergency searchlights, and kitchen sets.
In conclusion, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is facing significant challenges due to intermittent rain and flash floods. The authorities are working to address the situation and provide relief to affected areas, but continued efforts and precautions from the public are necessary to ensure safety and minimize further damage.
