PESHAWAR:
The Nowshera region near the Kabul River was at risk of high-level floods as the water levels rose by 300,000 cusecs, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) flood warning cell cautioned on Saturday.
The cell further warned that the Adezai Bridge at the Kabul River were also susceptible to severe flooding.
According to the latest reports received around 3 pm, water levels have not risen in the Kabul River and 315,282 cusecs of water easily flowed through into the Indus River.
The Information and Public Relations Cell District Administration Nowshera stated that the water level could decrease in the next two hours.
Meanwhile, water levels rose in the Jundi River giving way to potential high-level flooding on the highway.
The flood warning cell’s announcement came shortly after the Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD) warned that the Indus River may reach high to very high flood levels at Kalabagh and Chashma.
According to the PMD, water levels may rise between 550,000 cusecs to 700,000 cusecs and the severe inundation will continue from August 27 to 28.
They advised all concerned authorities to remain alert and take “all necessary precautions” to avoid loss of life and property.
Due to the floods, thirty tourists, including women and children, were trapped in the Karamat Valley, a tourist destination in Lower Dir.
According to the relevant officials, the tourists can only be rescued via helicopter.
Floods in Charsadda
Intense floods continued to lash at the Munda Headworks Bridge in Charsadda. The bridge, which controlled the water flow from the River Swat, collapsed last night due to devastating rain-induced floods.
Read PMD predicts more rain across country, warns of urban flooding
The rapid flow of water caused fear and panic among the local people while the surrounding population has been under evacuation since yesterday.
The collapse of the bridge severed Tangi Tehsil’s connection with Peshawar and transportation through Shabqadar and Mohmand were stopped.
People from Tangi will now have to reach Charsadda through Peshawar.
The regions of Matta, Tangi, and Patang were all affected due to the bridge falling at night, however, people are currently engaged in relief work.
Relief activities
The first batch of food was delivered to flood victims in Swat Valley by helicopters. Ration packages were provided to flood-affected families in Kalam.
Food was provided to the victims by helicopter in the Tehsil Kabal of Swat.
Govt on ‘flood alert’
During a presser, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government spokesperson Barrister Saif Ali Khan lamented that the “natural calamity” had killed 226 people.
In addition to the human lives lost, 1,266 cattle were killed, 11,000 houses were completely destroyed and 10,000 were partially damaged.
“The situation of flash floods has intensified. The provincial government is on flood alert,” he announced.
According to the spokesperson, riverside settlements suffered the most.
He further said that preemptive arrangements had been made for a potential flood which reduced losses.
“Funds were already released to various districts due to the possibility of floods,” Barrister Saif added.
He maintained that severe floods in Charsadda, Swat and Dir were unexpected and that the people in the sensitive areas of Charsadda did not vacate their houses despite government announcements.
“Two government helicopters have been earmarked for relief operations. However, the government helicopters are not capable of rescue activities,” he said, adding that the choppers would be used to transport food and other relief materials.
Army flood relief helpline
An Army Flood Relief helpline was also established and helpdesks across Pakistan could be reached on the Universal Access Number (UAN) 1135, the Inter-Services Public Relations announced on Saturday.
For Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, people could reach the flood relief desk at the UAN 1125, the military’s media wing added.
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