The death toll from a cloudburst in Bajaur, a tribal district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has risen to 18, while dozens have died in Azad Kashmir (AJK), national media reported Friday.
According to details, lightning, heavy rain, and cloudbursts in various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have paralyzed daily life. In Salarzai area of Bajaur, a tribal district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the death toll from the cloudburst has risen to 18, while 3 people are still missing.
Four houses were completely destroyed, and rescue teams are engaged in searching for the missing persons with the help of heavy machinery.
In Lower Dir, five people died and four were injured when the roof of a house collapsed. In Basyan, Balakot, Mansehra, two people died when a vehicle was swept away into a stream, while in Shahi Kot, more than 25 tourists trapped in swollen streams were rescued safely.
In Upper and Lower Chitral, flooding of streams and the Chitral River at high levels submerged several acres of agricultural land; three houses were destroyed in the Deosira and Donich streams. In the upper areas of Matta, Swat, rainwater entered the population, and low-lying areas were inundated.
Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, directed the administrations of the affected districts to remain on high alert, utilize all resources in rescue and relief operations, and ensure precautionary measures in advance.
Meanwhile, in the Kishtwar district of Occupied Kashmir, a cloudburst also wreaked havoc; in just one hour, more than 100 millimeters of rain caused streams to overflow. Torrents and landslides killed 44 people, while more than 200 are missing.
One hundred and twenty people have been rescued; however, there are fears that the death toll will rise. Dozens of houses have been completely destroyed, and many injured have been transferred to hospitals.
