The Pakistani government has reported that at least nine people have died due to flooding in the eastern regions as a result of ongoing rains in Pakistan. The area’s administrator, Shehzad Mahboob, stated that the nine deceased individuals belonged to the same family. He explained that the family of 16 people had gone for breakfast near the Swat River in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. According to Mahboob, when the children of the family entered the river to take photos, the weather suddenly worsened, causing the river to overflow. The adults who went to rescue the children also became trapped in the floodwaters.
Shah Fahad, spokesperson for the area’s emergency services, said that about 100 safety personnel, divided into different groups, had managed to rescue 58 people. He added that efforts were underway to find tourists who were scattered when the river overflowed. Fahad reiterated the government’s previous warnings about the possibility of the river overflowing, which is popular among tourists. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed sorrow over the deaths of tourists in this incident and has directed relevant authorities to strengthen safety measures near rivers.
Since the beginning of this week, heavy rains in parts of Pakistan have closed highways and caused significant damage to many homes. The forecast predicts more severe weather in various parts of Pakistan for the coming week as well. However, Pakistan’s National Meteorological Department anticipates that the impact of the monsoon season this year will be less severe compared to 2022. During the 2022 monsoon, river overflows resulted in the deaths of 1,739 people.
