Unrelenting rains and snowfall claim 17 lives in Pakistan’s northwest, injure 23

In this handout photograph released by Pakistan's Rescue 1122 services on March 2, 2024 shows rescue worker arrives for operation in an area covered with snow in Malam Jabba hill station, around 40 kilometres away from Swat Valley, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. (Photo courtesy: Rescue 1122)

• Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate change and has witnessed extreme weather events like floods in the past
• Provincial Disaster Management Authority says it is in contact with district authorities to deal with any contingency

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: At least 17 people, including women and children, have died and 23 wounded due to unrelenting rains and heavy snowfall in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the last 24 hours, a Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) official said on Saturday.
Pakistan ranks among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Despite its minimal contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, its geographical location exposes it to significant climate change risks, including glacial melt, sea-level rise, heatwaves and extreme weather events such as the devastating monsoon floods in 2022.
The PDMA official, speaking to Arab News, noted that his department had issued an advisory last month, urging district administrations to devise contingency plans to tackle the potential challenges and emergencies posed by the expected rains, snowfall and floods.
“We have reports of 17 people who lost their lives and 23 others who were wounded across the province due to the incessant rains in the last 24 hours,” Taimur Ali, the PDMA spokesperson in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, told Arab News. “In addition to that, at least 21 houses were fully destroyed and 14 others were partially damaged amid the downpour.”
“We have adopted all possible measures to minimize the scale of disaster, keeping in view the rough weather system,” he continued.
Ali said efforts were underway to reopen roads that were hit by snowfall and landslides in the hilly areas of the province, adding that six tourists had also been rescued after being trapped for hours in Malam Jabba located in the Swat region.
He informed the PDMA was in close liaison with different departments to meet emergency situations and facilitate aid to people.
According to the Met Office, the westerly weather system prevailing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was likely to persist for another two days.
Ali said all relevant departments had been put on high alert since rains and snowfall were likely to trigger further landslides.
Bilal Faizi, the provincial spokesperson for Rescue 1122, told Arab News his department had directed the staff to stay vigilant and help address any emergencies or carry out relief operations.
“Our department has performed during major disasters in the past and we are prepared to help people in the face of natural disasters like this,” he continued.
Faizi said most of the deaths had occurred in different parts of the province due to the collapse of rooftops, especially in remote areas.
He informed that most fatalities occurred in Bajaur, Dir and Peshawar districts, adding that numerous livestock were also reportedly buried under the rubble of damaged houses in far-flung areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.