At least 35 people, including eight women and three children, were killed in torrential rains and floods related incidents in different parts of NWFP on Monday. Some rescue boats also capsized, resulting in missing 25 people, majority of whom were reportedly rescued in Khwaja Town area of Peshawar city.
According to reports from Khyber Agency, 12 people including five persons of one family lost their lives in Bara and Jamrud subdivisions of the agency. People have also found bodies of a woman and a minor child in Upper Qamberkhel area of the agency.
Five people were killed in Takhta Baig locality of the district while in Bhudni, , people including 7 women and two children also died in rain related incidents. Five more lost lives in Regi, suburban locality of the city while a woman died in Adezai, Kohat.
Local volunteers launched relief work as a number of localities in the area were badly affected by floodwaters. Flood water entered houses in Patwar, Reggi, Shahi Bala, Shahi Payan, Badizai, Mullazai, Baduhni, Hassan Ghari, Khushal Colony and Mathra, suburban localities of the City and damaged houses and inundated standing crops and destroyed cattle.
The areas located on the Warsak Road and in the neighbourhood including Reggi Union Council, Shahi Bala, Hariana Payan, Pajjagi and Mathra Union councils were among the worst affected areas by floods. The flood, which started at around 4:00 am, swept the villages on its way and houses, crops and cattle were swept away in it.
The City District Nazim, Peshawar, Ghulam Ali termed the situation as grave and said that the flood had destroyed around 800 houses in the area. He demanded of the provincial government to declare the city as 'calamity area' and asked the President, the Prime Minister and donor agencies to come forward to the help of the flood affectees.
He said that relief and rescue operations were going on in the suburban localities of the city. He visited the affected areas along with the staff of the district government. The district government also declared emergency in all three major hospitals of the district. The district government had sought the assistance of the provincial government in tackling the emergency like situation in the district.
The floods also destroyed roads, bridges, electricity poles, mobile towers and transformers in the areas and while several people were feared missing. The floods also entered Awami National Party (ANP) headquarters Baacha Khan Markaz located on Bashir Abad at Pajjaji Road. The floods also destroyed Gul Abad Link Bridge, which connects Peshawar with Mohamand Agency.
Meanwhile, the rain, which continued for five hours, damaged dozens of houses, shops, bridges and standing corps in the Jamrud tehsil of Khyber Agency. The Malagori, Lashwara, Chapri, Jaladin, Tedi bazaar, Kamarkal areas were badly affected by floods and rains. Several bridges, electricity poles and five trucks were also swept away in the flood water.
The search and rescue operations were on for the missing, dead and injured in the area. Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani expressed his deep shock and sorrow over the loss of precious lives and properties due to torrential rains and floods in the province especially in Peshawar and its surrounding areas.
In a condolence message, he expressed heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved families. The Governor said that in this hour of test, the entire nation is with them and the government is making every effort to help them to the maximum possible extent.
Appreciating the spirit and services of the relief agencies engaged in this connection, the Governor expressed hope that no chance would be spared to minimise the losses and help to the needy people. He also prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls and courage to the bereaved families to bear the irreparable losses with patience and fortitude. He has also prayed early recovery of the injured.
Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti directed provision of relief goods to the flood affected people, saying that no lethargic attitude would be tolerated in this regard.
Presiding over a meeting to assess the damages and losses caused by flash floods triggered by heavy rains in the Frontier province, at the Control Room in Home Department, the chief minister said that shortage of funds should not hinder relief activities and the affected people should be provided tents, blankets, medicines, food, clean drinking water and other essential goods.
Provincial minister for Revenue Habibur Rehman Taboli, chief secretary Riaz Noor, secretaries health, irrigation, local government, education, special home secretary, provincial relief commissioner, CCP Dr Salman and other officials were among the participants of the meeting.
Hoti also directed for just distribution of relief goods and to make sure that these goods are delivered to the deserved people, saying no malpractice's will be tolerated in this regard. He directed the establishment of relief camps near the affected areas that the concerned people could get an early benefit from these camps.
The chief minister also directed the concerned officials to expedite efforts for giving compensation to the families who lost their beloved ones and those injured during the natural disaster, besides taking precautionary measures to prevent outbreak of epidemics.
He also stressed for developing close co-ordination among the departments of health, police, CDMD, irrigation and other in order to evolve a joint strategy to cope with the situation amicably.
For giving an early relief to the affected families, the meeting was told that cooked meals, required tents, free medical camps and arrangements of mobile teams and vehicles have been completed in the floods affected areas. The chief minister said that the availability of doctors and medicines should be ensured until the complete rehabilitation of the affectees.