Monsoon rains kill seven,  injured 19  in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

PESHAWAR, Jul 02 (APP): Torrential monsoon rains, strong winds and flash floods have caused widespread destruction across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past 48 hours, claiming seven lives and injuring 19 others, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Thursday.

The latest PDMA report stated that the deceased include two men, four children and one woman, while the injured comprise seven men, one woman and 11 children.

The severe weather also damaged 38 houses across the province. Of these, 36 sustained partial damage, while two were completely destroyed. The extreme weather conditions also inflicted heavy losses on solar panel installations at various houses and gas stations.

The affected districts include Khyber, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Mardan, Shangla, Charsadda,  Bajaur and Lower Chitral.

The PDMA said teams from Rescue 1122, district administrations, and other relevant agencies are carrying out relief and rescue operations in the affected areas. Local authorities have also been directed to expedite relief efforts and ensure the prompt delivery of emergency assistance to affected families.

PDMA spokesperson urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from vulnerable tourist destinations and strictly follow official weather advisories and safety alerts.

The authority further stated that its Emergency Operations Centre remains fully operational, and citizens can report emergencies or seek information by calling the PDMA helpline 1700.