At least 43 people died and 14 were injured in rain-related incidents in various districts across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Friday.Since late June, monsoon rains have wreaked havoc across the country especially KP and northern regions by triggering deadly floods, landslides and displacement, particularly in vulnerable, poorly drained, or densely populated areas.

At least 325 people, including 142 children, have died and 743 others have been injured since June 26 in flash floods and torrential rains that have battered several parts of Pakistan, according to updated daily data from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).Bajaur was the most-impacted district due to recent flash floods, with 18 deaths and eight others injured, according to a PDMA daily situation report issued today.

Fifteen people lost their lives in Battagram; five were killed and four were wounded in Lower Dir; four deaths were reported in Swat; while one casualty and two injuries were recorded in Shangla.In Bajaur earlier today, there were “reports of several people injured in flash floods”, which were caused by a cloudburst (heavy rainfall) in Salarzai tehsil’s Jabrarai village“, Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmad Faizi told.

“Rescue 1122 personnel, with the cooperation of residents, have so far recovered 16 bodies and rescued three injured from the rubble and rainwater,” Faizi confirmed.The injured were taken to a hospital after receiving immediate medical aid in an ambulance. Disaster management, medical and diving teams were involved in the rescue efforts.

A search and rescue operation was underway under the supervision of Bajaur District Emergency Officer Amjad Khan as seven people remained missing, Faizi said, citing locals.DEO Amjad Khan and the station house in-charge were personally supervising the operation, the Rescue 1122 official added. In Battagram, at least 10 people died and 16 others were missing after torrential rains and flash floods wreaked havoc in the district’s Neel Band area, Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Saleem Khan said.

AC Saleem told the media that five houses were destroyed last night due to a lightning strike in Neel Band village, which is located on the border of Battagram and Mansehra districts. “So far, 10 bodies have been recovered from the stream at the Shimlai Mandrawali location, while rescue teams from Rescue 1122, police, and local volunteers are engaged in ongoing relief and search operations,”.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)