At least 20 people have died after torrential monsoon rains and mudslides hit areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in northwestern Pakistan early from 08 September 2021.
Meanwhile disaster authorities in the country report that over 160 people have now died in rain-related incidents since the start of this year’s monsoon.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported one person died when a house collapsed in Peshawar on 08 September. Another fatality occurred when a landslide destroyed a house in Malakand District on 10 September.
In Torghar district, 13 bodies have been recovered from the debris of a mudslide which swept away two houses and damaged several others. The victims include 7 children. Three people were injured in the incident which occurred at around 23:00 on 11 September 2021. More victims are feared missing and search operations are continuing.
Deputy Commissioner of Torghar, Mohammad Fawad, visited the village of Jatka in Torghar to offer his condolences to the bereaved. He also offered support and assistance to victims’ families.
The city of Abbottabad was also badly affected by the heavy rain which triggered a mudslide on the outskirts of the city destroying at least 1 house. Five people from the same family including 3 children died and 3 others were injured in the incident.
Areas of Swat District were also affected and 3 houses damaged or destroyed.
Over 20 people died in rain-related incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in mid-July.
Over 160 Fatalities So Far in 2021 Monsoon
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in Pakistan, as of 09 September over 160 people have died in rain-related incidents since 01 July and the start of this year’s monsoon.
This total includes over 60 fatalities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 47 in Punjab Province, 24 in Balochistan and 8 in Sindh Province. A total 240 houses have been damaged and 257 destroyed, along with 13 roads and 9 bridges.
Many of the fatalities in Balochistan occurred during a period of severe weather from 15 to 19 July 2021. The fatalities included 2 soldiers who died in a car swept away in flash-flood near Kohlu. Affected districts included Kohlu, Harnai, Pishin, Khuzdar, Khuzdar, Kech and Panjgur.
Two people died in capital city Islamabad on 28 July 2021 after what officials described as a “cloudburst” dumped heavy rainfall on the city.
NDMA said three people died when a house collapsed in West Karachi on 08 September. Flash flooding had earlier affected parts of Karachi and Sindh Province on 03 September. Four people died in separate incidents after being electrocuted in flood waters, according to media reports. Roads were blocked in the city and some power outages reported.
