PESHAWAR: At least four people, including two women and two children, were killed after a house roof collapsed in Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), rescue officials said on Wednesday, a day after authorities warned of flash flood risks across the province in the coming days.
The incident occurred in Mandal area’s Dag Lum Shah village, where five people were trapped under the rubble when the roof caved in, according to the rescue service.
“Rescue 1122 personnel responded promptly and pulled the injured out from under the rubble,” it said in a statement.
“The injured were given initial CPR in a Rescue ambulance and shifted in critical condition to District Headquarters Hospital Khar, where doctors confirmed the deaths of two women and two girls,” it added.
The incident came after flash flood risks were highlighted by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of KP, as it urged officials to take precautionary measures to minimize damage.
Flash floods are sudden, fast-moving floods that occur within minutes or a few hours of intense rainfall, a dam break or rapid snowmelt.
“From 2nd to 4th April, there is a likelihood of flash flooding in the associated tributaries of River Kabul, Kohat Toi, Kurram and Gomal,” PDMA said on Tuesday.
“Furthermore, water levels in the River Kabul and its tributaries are also expected to increase significantly.”
Residents along the River Kabul, Kohat Toi, Kurram, Gomal, and nearby nullahs have been advised to move livestock to higher ground and evacuate low-lying areas to stocked shelters, it added.
PDMA said another strong westerly weather system is expected to affect parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Karak, Hangu, Kohat, Orakzai, Kurram, Khyber, Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Mohmand, Malakand,
Mardan, Swabi, Bajaur, Dir, Buner, Shangla, Swat, Chitral, Dera Ismail Khan, Haripur, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Battagram and Kohistan.
It directed authorities to undertake precautionary measures to avoid any loss of life and damage to infrastructure, crops and animals.
At least 22 people have been killed and 72 injured in rain-related incidents in KP since Mar. 25, bringing Pakistan’s nationwide death toll from such incidents in recent days to around 40.
Pakistan has witnessed stormy weather conditions in recent weeks, with at least 21 people killed in Karachi as well.
In 2022, catastrophic floods triggered by unprecedented monsoon rains killed more than 1,700 people and affected over 33 million nationwide.
Last year, heavy monsoon rains again caused widespread flooding across Pakistan, killing more than 900 people, with Punjab among the hardest-hit provinces where millions were affected and vast stretches of agricultural land were submerged, damaging crops and livelihoods.
