Radio News Network Radio News Network
PESHAWAR – As torrential monsoon rains batter Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), a devastating cloudburst in Swabi has deepened the province’s misery, pushing the death toll beyond 392 and leaving dozens missing. The disaster has laid bare KP’s fragile resilience against intensifying climate-driven calamities.
A cloudburst striking Gadoon Amazai and Darori villages on Sunday triggered flash floods that swept away 12 houses in Darori, killing at least 25 people—including women and children—and leaving 33 missing.
At least 35 survivors remain injured as Rescue 1122, with 90+ personnel and 13 ambulances, struggles through washed-out roads and landslides. In Razaar and Topi tehsils, floodwaters engulfed communities, leaving residents marooned on rooftops.
Across KP, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reports 392 deaths and 245 injuries, nearly 60% of Pakistan’s 660 fatalities. Buner (225 deaths), Shangla (36), and Swat (20) reel from the onslaught, with 150+ still missing in remote valleys.
The province has logged 712 damaged houses—212 destroyed—and 427 lost cattle, compounding rural poverty.
Nationally, 450 km of roads, 124 bridges, and vast croplands signal billions in recovery costs, with KP’s terrain amplifying the toll.
The KP government, under Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, has rolled out emergency measures but faces flak for falling short.
Declarations in Swabi, Buner, Swat, and Shangla have funneled Rs800 million for relief and Rs1.55 billion for road restoration, including Rs500 million for Buner.
Compensation of Rs1.5 million per deceased family has been pledged, and a Swat River mining ban aims to clamp down on future risks.
To address delays, four Swat officials— including the deputy commissioner and Rescue 1122 head—were suspended after a 45-minute response lapse worsened deaths, with Gandapur ordering a probe into the failures. Yet, no such actions have been reported for Swabi’s delayed rescues.
Frustration is mounting. Swabi’s Darori survivors blasted authorities for arriving late, with X posts decrying officials for leaving hamlets to fend for themselves. Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah owned up to lapses, but blocked roads and no helicopters have bogged down relief, forcing teams to trek through mud.
The 2024 Monsoon Contingency Plan, flagging Swabi among 11 vulnerable districts, fizzled out against unpredictable cloudbursts.
Climate scientists warn warmer atmospheres fuel heavier monsoons, with dry winters and heatwaves setting the stage.
KP’s deforested hills and unchecked construction magnify disasters, echoing 2022’s 1,700 deaths. Recharge Pakistan’s wetland restoration lags, offering little help. With rains forecast until August 21, KP faces a governance test. Public anger on X demands accountability, urging officials to beef up resilience.
In Swabi, grief-stricken families dig through mud, while KP braces for more storms, praying governance catches up with nature’s fury.
