Devastating heavy rains claim 25 lives and injure 145 in northwest Pakistan

The relentless rains and accompanying hail battered the districts of Bannu, Lakki Marwat, and Karak in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The severe weather uprooted trees and caused electrical transmission towers to topple, exacerbating the impact of the calamity, as reported by Khateer Ahmed, a senior rescue officer.

Rescue and emergency response teams are actively engaged in providing urgent relief and medical aid to those injured in the disaster, Ahmed added.

This unfortunate event occurs in the wake of last year's devastating monsoon rains and subsequent flooding, which resulted in the loss of over 1,700 lives, affected approximately 33 million people, and displaced nearly 8 million individuals across Pakistan.

Recognizing the need to address the increasing frequency and intensity of such natural disasters, the government has allocated $1.3 billion in the national budget draft presented on Friday for climate resilience efforts.

Expressing profound sorrow over the loss of life caused by the storm, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has instructed authorities to expedite relief operations and ensure prompt assistance to the affected communities.

Furthermore, in anticipation of the approaching Cyclone Biparjoy in the Arabian Sea, Prime Minister Sharif has directed officials to implement preemptive emergency measures. The country's disaster management agency has warned of the cyclone's severe and intense nature, with wind speeds reaching 150 kilometers per hour (93 miles per hour), as it moves towards the southern regions of Pakistan.

Efforts are underway to manage the immediate aftermath of the devastating rains while also preparing for the potential impact of the approaching cyclone, underscoring the government's commitment to safeguarding its citizens and minimizing the adverse effects of such natural disasters. (ILKHA)