Web desk: The Pakistan Army’s flood relief operation has entered its fourth consecutive day in Buner, Swat, Shangla, and Bajaur. Despite heavy rainfall since this morning across most of the affected regions, rescue efforts are continuing without interruption.
Army helicopters are delivering food supplies and other essential goods, while also airlifting residents from flood-hit areas to safer locations.
Meanwhile, troops from the Corps of Engineers remain engaged in clearing blocked roads and removing debris to restore access. Their Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team is also working to recover the injured and retrieve bodies trapped under rubble.
In addition, Army doctors have established medical camps in the affected districts, where they are providing free treatment to patients. According to officials, the relief operation will continue until all affected people are rescued and shifted to secure places.
Relief work by the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps (North) is moving at full speed in flood-hit areas of Peshawar and other regional districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, including Buner, Shangla, Swat, Mansehra, Battagram and Bajaur.
Fresh contingents reached the affected regions between Saturday night and Sunday morning and immediately began rescue and relief operations.
The Engineer Corps’ Urban Search and Rescue teams, equipped with specialised tools, are searching for people trapped under debris, while work is also underway to repair damaged bridges and clear blocked routes.
Despite difficult weather conditions, army helicopters are transporting food supplies to remote communities and evacuating the injured, women, and children to safer places. Medical camps have been set up in several areas, where hundreds of patients have received treatment and free medicines.
Army teams remain active in the villages of Chorak, Bishnoi, Gokand, Aloch and Chakesar in Buner, Shangla and Swat. In Bajaur, efforts are underway to restore the Jar Bridge, which links the district with Dir. A new bridge is also being installed to reopen road links as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) National Emergency Operations Centre issued an emergency alert on Sunday after forecasts warned of heavy rainfall and possible flooding in several regions over the next 24 hours.
According to the alert, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan are among the areas most at risk. The NDMA has directed local authorities and institutions to take urgent precautionary measures.
The current weather system active over Pakistan is expected to bring heavy to very heavy rain within 24 hours.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, heavy rains are expected in the northern and upper districts. Including Swat, Buner, Shangla, Dir, Mansehra, Battagram, Abbottabad and Malakand, which may cause flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas.
Scattered rain and thunderstorms are also forecast for the Peshawar valley covering Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan and Swabi. Southern parts of the province, including D.I. Khan, Tank, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Karak and Kohat may also experience showers with some heavy falls.
In Kashmir, districts including Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Bagh, Haveli, Kotli, Mirpur and Bhimber are expected to receive heavy rain and thunderstorms. Landslides and flash floods remain a serious threat in the hilly areas.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, rainfall is forecast in Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza, Ghizer, Diamer, Astore, Ghanche and Shigar. Authorities warn of possible landslides, debris flows and localised flooding in valley regions.
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