BAJAUR: At least 12 persons have been killed, and 18 others are missing, when lightning hit seven houses in Jabrari area of Bajaur tribal district in the early hours of Friday.
Local sources reported that the rain and lightning caused heavy damage in the area, and there are severe difficulties in rescue activities due to the suspension of bridges and linking roads. The local people are facing a shortage of facilities to retrieve the affected people from the area, as rain has also caused heavy flooding in the surrounding areas of Bajaur.
The lightning also caused injuries to several people who were rushed to the district headquarters hospital in Bajaur, while a search is underway to recover the missing persons being swept away in the flood. Locals are contributing to rescue activities on a self-help basis, as there is a shortage of rescue staff and vehicles to reach different areas.
Member of Provincial Assembly Aurangzeb Khan said that excavators are being transported to the areas, and the road being blocked due to heavy flood would be opened soon. He expressed heartfelt sympathies with bereaved families and also with families of missing persons in the flood.
District Emergency officers said that as the rain stopped and roads were opened, teams would be dispatched to search for the missing victims. He said that rescue teams are facing difficulties due to damage to bridges and roads as a result of heavy rain.
The number of dead bodies mounted to eight as three more dead bodies were recovered in different areas where the incident occurred. Residents have urgently appealed to the government and public to contribute to relief activities. They warned that the scale of losses would raises if swift intervention was not ensured.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority has already warned of rain for this week and directed the relevant authorities to remain vigilant in case of heavy rain and flooding. The PDMA has issuing instructions to residents of Chitral, Upper Dir, Lower Dir and Bajaur to remain cautious in case of any emergency.
PDMA has also issued directives to district administration to monitor the situation and ensure effective coordination with provincial rescue and relief authorities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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