Tragic Roof Collapse in Upper Dir, Pakistan: 12 Family Members Lost Due to Heavy Rain
In Upper Dir, Pakistan, twelve members of a single family tragically lost their lives when the roof of their mud house collapsed amidst heavy rainfall. The incident occurred in Maidan tehsil, as reported by local news outlets.
Victims Identified
District Police Officer Waqar Ahmed identified the victims as Noshad Khan, Khan Bacha, Wali Rehman, their wives, and their children, who ranged in age from three to 22 years old. The bodies were recovered and transported to Maidan Hospital following a search operation led by the district emergency officer.
Impact of Monsoon Season
This devastating incident underscores the severe impact of the ongoing monsoon season in Pakistan. Heavy rainfall has affected various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the Malakand and Hazara divisions. The increased river flow has caused significant infrastructure damage, such as the destruction of the main bridge connecting Mansehra and Naran. A temporary steel bridge has been installed to maintain connectivity with Babusar.
Additionally, landslides have blocked the Karakoram Highway at Diamer, although it has since been reopened. The monsoon season, spanning from July to August, typically brings about 255mm of rain each month. The current monsoon has been particularly harsh, with extensive damage reported in previous years.
Previous Monsoon Damage
In 2022, the monsoon caused severe destruction, leaving over 75,000 homes destroyed and 130,000 partially damaged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone. A recent report from the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) revealed that the ongoing monsoon has resulted in 74 deaths and 128 injuries from July to August 28 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The report also noted that 906 houses were damaged by rain-related incidents during this period.
The province continues to grapple with the effects of heavy rains, which have also caused fatalities and injuries in other incidents, including the death of a local government representative and a minor boy in separate rain-related accidents.
Doubts Revealed
Upper Dir -: Upper Dir is a district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It’s a place where people live, and it has mountains and valleys.
Mud house -: A mud house is a type of house made from mud and other natural materials. These houses are common in some rural areas because they are cheaper to build.
Monsoon season -: The monsoon season is a time of year when there is a lot of rain. In Pakistan, it usually happens from July to August and can cause floods and other problems.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa -: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a province in Pakistan. It’s one of the areas that gets a lot of rain during the monsoon season.