63, including 33 children, killed in heavy rainfall in Pakistan

At least 63 people were killed and 78 others injured in rain-related incidents in Pakistan's northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, local media reported on Sunday.

The province has been witnessing heavy rainfall since April 12, triggering flash floods. Of the 63 killed, 33 of them were children, 15 men and 15 women, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) was quoted by The News as saying.

Videos on social media showed roads in the affected places turned into rivers as people waded through floodwater amid heavy rainfall. Vehicles were seen moving slowly on flooded roads.

Of the 78 injured, 37 of them are men, 24 children and 17 women, the PDMA said. It also said that 477 houses were destroyed due to heavy rainfall while 2,725 others suffered damage.

Various districts, including Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera Khyber, Lower Chitral, Upper Chitral, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Swat, Bajaur, Shangla, Mansehra, Mohmand, Malakand, Karak, Tank, Mardan, Buner, Hangu, Battagram, Bannu, North and South Waziristan, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan and Orakzai were affected due to the inclement weather.

In the last 24 hours, Malam Jabba received 58 mm of rainfall, Upper Dir 49 mm, Lower Dir 34 mm, Kakul 43 mm, Bacha Khan 41 mm, Takht Bai 35 mm, and 28 mm each in Darosh and Saidu Sharif.

There is no immediate respite as there is a chance of rain in most districts in the next few days, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department.

The possibility of more rainfall may trigger landslides in the upper regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and could damage standing crops and more houses.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government has directed the PDMA to release Rs 11 crore (INR approx 3.29 crore) to the administration of affected districts.

A relief aid of Rs 9 crore (INR approx 2.69 crore) has been sent to the newly-merged districts of the province.

The PDMA has provided relief materials, including tents, mats, kitchen sets, blankets, beds, tarpaulins, solar lamps and other daily-use items to people in Peshawar, Nowshera, Chitral, Swat, Bajaur, Lower Kohistan, Mohmand, Upper Dir, Tank, Shangla and Torghar, The News reported.

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