3 bodies found after vehicle carrying Afghans swept away by flash flood in KP’s Khyber: Rescue 1122

PESHAWAR: A vehicle carrying Afghan families returning to the neighboring country was swept away in a flash flood triggered by rain in the Landi Kotal tehsil of Khyber district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Monday, according to Rescue 1122.

Rescue personnel have recovered the bodies of three occupants of the vehicle, the emergency service reported, and indicated that search efforts for the remaining individuals are ongoing.

Rescue 1122 initially stated that the vehicle was swept away near Sultan Khel Market, prompting the deployment of rescue teams and the initiation of a search operation.

Subsequent statements indicated that divers from Rescue 1122 recovered the bodies of a woman and a man in Jamrud town, with assistance from local residents, while a child’s body was retrieved from the Parang Sang area.

In a separate incident, the roof of a room collapsed in Kalu Dheri village, Mardan, resulting in the deaths of two children, as reported by Rescue 1122.

The emergency service reported that the children’s mother and their 14‑year‑old sister sustained injuries and were transported to Mardan Medical Complex Hospital.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast widespread rains across the country for the week, with showers expected in Khyber, Mardan and several other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from July 19 to July 23.

Emergency meeting

In response to the forecast, Shah Fahad, the director general of Rescue 1122 for Khyber, chaired an online emergency meeting to assess the weather outlook and instructed all district emergency officers to remain on high alert, according to the service’s statement.

He issued directives to ensure service delivery in line with the approved comprehensive emergency plans.

The statement quoted him as saying that rescue personnel, emergency vehicles, rescue boats and specialised equipment have been deployed across all districts for response, and that additional personnel and equipment are positioned at temporary water rescue points.

“Rescue 1122’s water rescue teams continuously patrol rivers, streams, nullahs and waterways,” he said, adding that citizens are advised to avoid unnecessary travel, stay clear of rivers and rain‑fed waterways, and contact the 1122 helpline in emergencies.

He noted that awareness campaigns regarding weather‑related risks, flash floods and precautionary measures are being broadcast via loudspeakers.

Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) established a control room at its headquarters on the directive of Chief Executive Akhtar Hameed Khan, with operational teams placed on high alert in anticipation of rains.

The utility also urged consumers to stay away from electricity poles, wires and transformers, avoid walking through water near electrical installations, refrain from handling electrical appliances with wet hands, and to report faults rather than attempting self‑repairs.

Rains in AJK

Earlier, heavy rains completely washed away two houses in the Neelum district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.

Deputy Commissioner Chaudhry Iqbal Hassan told Dawn that relief items, including beds, food and utensils, are being provided to the affected families.

He added that a section of a link road located approximately two kilometres ahead of Athmuqam had been washed away, with debris blocking about five kilometres of the road, and that machinery has been deployed to clear the route.

Source link