ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Tuesday warned of heightened risk of flooding in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, following the killing of at least 47 people in rain-related incidents in the region since March 25.
There is a flood-like situation in Kabul River after rains in eastern Afghanistan, which is likely to affect KP’s Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera and adjoining districts, according to the NDMA.
Heavy rain, storms and floods have battered Asian neighbors Afghanistan and Pakistan for more than two weeks, killing at least 188 people, disaster officials in both countries said on Tuesday.
The NDMA said it has advised local administration to remain on high alert in view of flood risk in Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera and adjoining districts, and urged emergency services to ensure operational readiness.
“Residents near riverbanks should avoid unnecessary movements,” it said in an advisory. “Authorities should maintain continuous monitoring of river levels.”
Torrential rains have battered several parts of Pakistan since late March.
The nationwide death toll in rain-related incidents since mid-March has climbed to 85, with at least 27 people killed in Karachi in the southern Sindh province, nine in southwestern Balochistan and two in the eastern Punjab province.
The KP Provincial Disaster Management Authority earlier said a fresh spell of rains was expected across various districts in the province, which could last till Apr. 9.
