In a video message, Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shahab Ali Shah said that on the night of August 14 and 15, heavy rains and cloudbursts hit several districts of the province, including Bajaur, Dir, Buner, Swat, Shangla, Battagram, and Mansehra, causing massive loss of life and property. He said that immediately after the disaster, an effective rescue operation was launched in which Rescue 1122, the Relief Department, district administrations, police, and personnel of the Pakistan Army took part. More than 2,000 personnel and over 200 vehicles are currently engaged in the rescue and relief operations.
The Chief Secretary said that the floods had cut off access to many areas, destroying roads and bridges. However, thanks to the tireless efforts of rescue teams, 90 per cent of roads and bridges have been restored, reconnecting most affected areas. In places where road access has not yet been restored, relief supplies are being delivered on foot or through alternative means. He added that the PDMA, NDMA, PKHA and Pakistan Army’s Engineering Corps are working jointly to rebuild damaged infrastructure. Where permanent bridges cannot be constructed immediately, temporary steel bridges are being installed. Alongside this, work is underway at a fast pace to restore the electricity supply and cellular networks. The Chief Minister has directed all public representatives to remain present in their respective constituencies and keep close contact with affected families.
According to Shahab Ali Shah, food rations and other essential supplies have been arranged and are being provided continuously. The Public Health Engineering Department and other concerned agencies are working to ensure the supply of clean drinking water in flood-affected areas. Medical camps have also been set up in different districts where doctors and staff from the Health Department and the Army Medical Corps are providing healthcare facilities.
The Chief Secretary said that Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has announced a special relief and compensation package for the victims. Funds have already been released for the families of martyrs and the injured, and distribution will begin today. The Chief Minister also visited flood-hit areas, met public representatives and provincial as well as federal officials, and instructed them to remain alert and intensify their efforts. He said that the provincial government had already released Rs. 3 billion to accelerate restoration and rehabilitation works.
Highlighting the weather forecast, the Chief Secretary said that two more monsoon spells are expected by the end of August and the first week of September. In view of this, the government has activated its early warning system. District administrations have been directed to monitor the situation closely and issue timely alerts to the public. People living in high-risk areas should be temporarily shifted to safer places, he added.
Appealing to the people, the Chief Secretary urged citizens not to pay attention to rumours and strictly follow instructions issued by the administration. He emphasised that rescue and district administration teams are present on the ground and that full cooperation is essential. “All citizens are requested to take government warnings seriously in order to protect their precious lives and properties,” he said.
The Chief Secretary further stated that both national and international organisations are sending relief items to the province. Logistics hubs have been set up in every district to receive relief goods and dispatch them in an organised manner to areas in need. This, he said, would prevent duplication of efforts and ensure timely delivery of assistance.
He added that the Prime Minister has also announced a relief package, terming it a “national effort” in which federal and provincial governments, along with different units of the Pakistan Army, are working jointly to serve the people. “All institutions – civil, federal, provincial, and military – are fully mobilised to reduce the suffering of the people in this difficult time and to provide them immediate relief,” the Chief Secretary concluded.
