Flash floods and landslides have wreaked havoc in the tourist region of Kumrat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, demolishing infrastructure and isolating the area. The disaster has left hundreds stranded and claimed 12 lives in a tragic landslide, as authorities brace for more severe weather.
Flash floods in Kumrat have caused widespread destruction, demolishing hotels, restaurants, local homes, and crops. The main road to Kumrat was washed away at the Brekot point, severing access to the area. Additionally, the floods swept away the connecting bridges at Makrala and Thal, further isolating the region.
Tehsil Nazim Kalkot, Zia-ur-Rehman, reported that hundreds of tourists and vehicles are stranded in Kumrat, urging the provincial government to assist in rescue and recovery operations. The situation was exacerbated by a tragic landslide in Upper Dir, Kumrat Valley, which claimed the lives of 12 family members, including nine children, two women, and one man. The landslide struck a house in the Patarak area of Upper Dir district, within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Malakand Division.
According to the police, the victims include nine children, two women, and one man. The rescue operations were severely hampered by the ongoing rain and darkness.
Rescue operations were challenging due to ongoing rain and darkness. However, local residents, Rescue 1122 Upper Dir, police, Dir Levies, and Civil Defence worked together to recover all the bodies from the debris.
The heavy rains have also impacted the coastal regions of India and Pakistan along the Arabian Sea, causing flooding in western India’s Gujarat state and displacing thousands. At least 28 people have died this week from rain-related incidents in Gujarat state, according to officials.
Meteorologists in both India and Pakistan have warned of more heavy rainfall and strong winds expected to impact the coastal regions, with a developing cyclonic storm anticipated to form by today. Authorities are on high alert, urging residents to take precautions as the severe weather continues to pose significant risks to life and property.
