At least 17 people died and 23 others injured due to rain-related incidents, PDMA reported.
Karakoram Highway, Bisham-Swat road, main and links road were blocked for all types of traffic on Saturday due to a landslide as heavy boulders fell down the roads. A house also collapsed in the Kamach area of Martung tehsil, its inmates remained safe. Additionally, the PDMA reported that 13 houses were partially damaged and 21 were completely destroyed.
Snowfall in the upper parts of the district Shangla and downpours continued to lash on Saturday for the third consecutive day, which has disturbed the routine life in the district, including the Karakoram Highway between Shangla-Kohistan blocked in several points—also, the Bisham-Swat, Alpuri-Puran, and Karora-Kana roads.
Many tourists in Malam Jabba were stranded due to heavy snowfall. These tourists were rescued successfully by District Swat’s Rescue 1122 team on the special instructions of PDMA Director General Muhammad Qaiser Khan. Following the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s directive, PDMA, district administrations, and all relevant institutions remain highly alert to address the situation effectively.
Deputy director of the National Highways Authority for Shangla-Kohistan region, Ghulam Abbas, told The Northern Post that the KKH was blocked at over 15 points section numbers, 236 near Dubair, 247+100 near Glozel Banda, 253 near Pattan, 308 near Barseen, 311 near Kaiga, 318 near Pani Baa, 352+000 near Sazin,362+100 near Hurban Nullah, 387 near Thore, 326 near Lotar, 353 near Sazin, 438 near Bonar Das, 260 near Pattan for which efforts were underway however there were large boulders Blasting required.
He said clearance parties had been working since the early morning of Saturday. However, new landslides were continuously coming since it was constantly raining (snow in some places).
He added that it was expected to rain for the rest of the day and tomorrow, so more slides are likely on the international artery.
