Flash Floods and Heavy Rains Kill 275 in Pakistan

Pakistan stepped up rescue efforts after flash floods and heavy rains in the northwest killed 291 people and left thousands stranded in the region’s worst storms. Communication systems collapsed.

“We have 23 helicopters which are helping in relief and rescue missions across the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province today,” Amir Siddique, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Authority, a government agency, said by telephone from Islamabad today, Bloomberg reports.

At least 1300 people were trapped at various places and the district administration declared emergency seeking help from the army for rescue of the stranded people. Addressing a press briefing, the Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar said that 22 people died in Shangla while 30 others received injuries disrupting telecommunication system completely.

The minister said eight people died in Peshawar only, the capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 12,400 people trapped in Jogiyan Kalay and Lala Kalay while adding that the provincial government has dispatched 50 tents and Rs 6 million in aid, Frontier Post informs.