Over the past 24 hours, severe weather conditions including strong winds, lightning, and heavy rainfall have resulted in the deaths of seven individuals and injuries to 33 others across various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed on Sunday. The fatalities comprise two children, four men, and one woman, with incidents reported from Bannu, Shangla, and Mansehra districts.
In a significant development, the Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted additional rainfall in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir at multiple locations on Sunday, while most other regions of the country are expected to experience hot and dry weather conditions.
These recent casualties follow earlier incidents this month, where at least two people lost their lives and 31 others were injured due to rain and wind-related events in the province. A damage assessment by the PDMA revealed that many injuries and deaths occurred when walls and roofs of houses collapsed under the impact of strong winds and heavy rains affecting different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Meanwhile, the PDMA issued an alert on Saturday for districts including Swat, Upper Dir, Kohistan, and Buner, among others, in response to the ongoing adverse weather. The authority cautioned that rising temperatures after June 15 could increase the risk of snowmelt, potentially leading to flooding in vulnerable areas.
Authorities have instructed district administrations to maintain heightened alertness in sensitive zones and advised tourists and travelers to exercise caution. The public has been urged to avoid rivers, streams, and rain-fed areas during periods of heavy rainfall to minimize risks. For emergencies, the PDMA helpline 1700 remains operational.
It is noteworthy that on June 3, similar weather conditions caused two fatalities and injuries to 31 people, including seven women and eight children. The PDMA’s damage report reiterated that these casualties were primarily due to the collapse of walls and roofs triggered by intense winds and rain across the province.
