KPK government declares emergency in flood-ravaged Swat

PESHAWAR, August 26: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has declared an emergency in Swat after the scale of devastation caused by extreme flooding in the district reached out of control following record rains. Provincial authorities are facing difficulty in rescuing affected families from hill stations of Swat, Dir, and Chitral, Geo News reported on Friday. The state of emergency will be in effect until August 30 for relief efforts in flood-affected areas of Swat, a notification by the KP relief department stated. KPK CM Mahmood Khan has directed the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to expedite relief activities in the area besides timely provision of grocery, cooked food and other items to the affectees. According to the district administration, communication bridges in Matta, Sukhra, and Lalko in Swat have also been damaged. 500 people trapped as heavy rains trigger more flash floods in Balochistan US Congressman voices concerns for Pakistan floods victims Death toll tops 900 as Pakistan reels from ‘abnormal’ rain, glacial lake outburst floods. – PR