The new death toll came a day after Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif called for international help to combat deadly flooding in the country. The monsoon season, which began in June, has lashed Pakistan with particularly heavy rains this year and rescuers have struggled to remove thousands of cordoned-off people from flood-hit areas. The crisis forced the government to declare a state of emergency. In the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, floods damaged the gates of a large water control system on the Swat River, leading to flooding in Charsadda and Nowshera districts, said Sania Safi, the top administrative authority in Charsadda. “We pre-empted the situation and warned and forced reluctant residents to leave their homes for safety and move to relief camps set up in government buildings in safe places,” he said.
Roads submerged
Shafi said there was concern over further rising of the Swat and Kabul rivers, adding to the misery of residents who have already suffered loss of life and property. In Nowshera district, local administrator Quratul Ain Wazir said floodwaters submerged roads before gushing water headed for low-lying areas. “Our government has evacuated many people and taken others to relief camps where the government provided beds and food in safe buildings,” he said. “We will use the police to force those who are reluctant to leave their homes.” Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said soldiers and rescue organizations were helping people reach safety in many areas of southern Sindh, northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, eastern Punjab and southwestern Baluchistan. “The government has approved sufficient funds to financially compensate those affected and we will not leave our people alone in this difficult time,” he said. Aurangzeb asked wealthy people and relief organizations to come forward with aid to help flood-affected Pakistanis. WATCHES | Pakistan appeals for international help as monsoons trap 33 million people:
Pakistan appeals for international aid as monsoons trap 33 million people
In response to Sharif’s appeal for international aid, the United Nations has planned a US$160 million appeal for donations, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Asim Iftikhar. He said in his weekly briefing on Friday that the appeal would begin on August 30.
Shop carried away
The scenic Kalam Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is one of the areas worst affected by the rains and floods. Water from overflowing rivers washed away entire buildings, including a landmark hotel. “The situation is very serious as we have no road connectivity with the rest of the province, no electricity, gas and communication network and no relief is reaching here,” said Muzaffar Khan, whose grocery shop was located. swept along with many other stores. Shopkeepers collect their belongings from the mud after the flood near their damaged shops after heavy monsoon rains in Mingora, a town in Pakistan’s northern Swat Valley, on Saturday. (Abdul Majeed/AFP/Getty Images) Thousands whose homes were swept away are now living in tents miles from their flooded villages and towns after being rescued by soldiers, local disaster workers and volunteers, authorities said. In Balochistan, Asadullah Nasir, a spokesman for the provincial disaster management authority said that all 34 districts of the impoverished province were severely affected by the heavy rains and subsequent floods. He said road networks were destroyed and bridges washed away, and relief was only possible with helicopters, which were often unable to operate due to bad weather. He said provincial officials have confirmed 235 deaths, but the number is expected to rise significantly after communications are restored. In the eastern province of Punjab, Rajan Pur district appeared to be the worst hit along with Dera Ghazi Khan district. Thousands of mud and brick houses were flooded, most of which were completely demolished or at least partially destroyed. Residents left homeless by the flood sought refuge on higher ground, where they awaited relief supplies and other assistance. Rahim Hassan, 52, said he lost his home and two children — a daughter and son aged 14 and 16, respectively. “I have nothing in my life, my house was destroyed and my children were swept away by the gushing water and now we are helpless on this road under the open sky where the soldiers are feeding us,” he said.
The rain is expected to continue
The National Disaster Management Authority in its latest overnight report said 45 people were killed in flood-related incidents from Friday to Saturday. This brought the death toll since mid-June to 982 with 1,456 injured. Monsoon rains are expected to continue this week, mainly in the south and southwest. The season usually runs from July to mid-September in Pakistan. Heavy rains and subsequent flash floods have destroyed bridges, road networks across Pakistan, disrupting the supply of fruits and vegetables in markets and causing prices to rise. Much of neighboring Afghanistan was also hit by heavy rains and flooding. Mohammad Nasim Haqqani, a spokesman for the country’s National Disaster Management Ministry, said at least seven people were killed in eastern Nangarhar province in 24 hours and more than 600 others were rescued by defense ministry helicopters. The seven are in addition to the 182 deaths reported earlier in the week.
