DIR, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: The death toll from torrential rains and floods in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province has risen to 307, the KP Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Saturday, with at least 23 people injured in various incidents.
Raging hill torrents swept away dozens of people in KP’s Swat, Buner, Bajaur, Torghar, Mansehra, Shangla and Battagram districts on Friday, leaving behind a trail of destruction over the last 48 hours.
Rescuers backed by boats and helicopters worked for hours to save stranded residents and tourists trapped by flash flooding and landslides as ambulances transported more 100 bodies to hospitals.
A helicopter carrying relief supplies to the northwestern Bajaur region crashed due to bad weather, killing all five people on board, including two pilots, a government statement said.
“So far, 307 people have died and 23 have been injured in various accidents due to rains and flash floods during the last 48 hours,” the KP PDMA said on Saturday, in a report estimating losses.
