The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has issued a warning to all districts regarding an approaching rain-making weather system. The PDMA’s notification predicts that the new monsoon rains will likely commence from Wednesday in various parts of K-P, potentially leading to landslides in mountainous districts and urban flooding in Peshawar.
According to the PDMA, torrential downpours may increase the water flow in rivers and mountain streams in several areas, including Swat, Kohistan, Buner, Orakzai, Chitral, Manshera, Shangla, Dir Upper and Lower, Abbottabad, Khyber, Swabi, and Peshawar. The risk of urban flooding is high due to the heavy rains.
To address the weather forecast, the PDMA has instructed all deputy commissioners to monitor the flood level in rivers within their districts continuously. They were also advised to keep the public away from electricity poles, signboards, and electricity cables during dust and rain storms.
Additionally, deputy commissioners were urged to warn local communities and tourists in hill stations to take precautionary measures. All provincial departments were placed on high alert to ensure timely restoration of road links in the event of landslides or floods. They were also directed to assign alternate routes to prevent traffic jams.
Furthermore, all departments were required to have their workers available for emergency duties in case of urban flooding, landslides, or other mass emergencies. The rain spell is expected to last until August 7 across the province, prompting authorities to take all necessary precautions to prevent loss of life and property.
Earlier, heavy rainfall and flooding on July 26 had already caused significant devastation in K-P, resulting in at least 15 fatalities and 14 injuries over the past four days. The PDMA reported extensive damage to homes, with 12 houses completely destroyed and 83 others partially damaged in various districts, including Mansehra, Upper and Lower Chitral, Upper Dir, Swat, and Shangla
