ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the federal government to immediately activate the 911 emergency helpline across the country to deal with the ongoing flood crisis.
According to the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the helpline will provide quick help to people affected by natural disasters and other emergencies.
Officials said the 911 system works even in areas where mobile network towers are damaged or not active. It automatically connects calls to the nearest working tower, no matter which mobile company is being used.
A spokesperson of the ministry said citizens facing floods or any other emergency can dial 911 to get assistance. The spokesperson also requested people who are safe to avoid unnecessary calls so that those in real need can get help without delay.
The helpline is part of the Pakistan Emergency Helpline (PEHL), which brings all services—police, fire brigade, health, and disaster relief—under one number. The system was first launched in 2022 and has now been reactivated and expanded to meet current needs.
The ministry further said that besides providing emergency services, the system will also help collect data to identify resource requirements and track incidents across different regions.
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Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported on Friday that cloudbursts and flash floods during the past 24 hours have killed 229 people and injured 40 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The PDMA said the dead included 184 men, 14 women, and 12 children. Among the injured were 17 men, three women, and one child.
District-wise figures show 91 deaths in Buner, 35 in Shangla, 23 in Mansehra, 21 in Bajaur, 20 in Swat, 15 in Battagram, and five in Lower Dir.
The devastating floods have also badly damaged infrastructure, including roads, bridges, buildings and electricity installations in the affected districts.
According to PDMA, seven houses were destroyed and 38 were damaged, mostly in Swat district. Three schools were completely destroyed while three others suffered damage. The authority also warned that heavy rainfall is likely to continue until August 21 in different parts of the province.
Deaths and destruction have been reported in Swat, Buner, Shangla, Bajaur, Lower Dir, Battagram and Mansehra districts.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has declared one-day mourning today (Saturday) to honour five crew members of the Mi-17 helicopter who lost their lives when the aircraft crashed during a rescue mission. According to a notification, the national flag will fly at half-mast across the province.
Rescue 1122 teams shifted 2,071 stranded people, including 300 schoolchildren, to safety in Buner after flash floods. Deputy Commissioner Kashif Qayyum said an emergency has been declared in the district, while helicopters are being used for rescue in remote areas.
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He added that Pir Baba Bazaar and nearby areas were submerged, a mosque in Gokand was destroyed, and many animals drowned. Several roads were also blocked due to floodwaters.
Officials said the exact number of missing persons would only be confirmed once the waters recede.
In Mansehra, police rescued seven tourists trapped in Kaghan Valley after rains and landslides. The district also faced continuous rainfall, swelling the Indus, Siren and Kunhar rivers and their tributaries. Authorities have banned tourist visits to Siren Valley.
Landslides blocked the Nawazabad and Batrasi roads, but police later cleared them for traffic.
In Upper Kohistan, movement on the Karakoram Highway was restricted due to high water levels in the Indus River, leaving passengers and tourists stranded.
In Abbottabad, heavy rains inundated almost all main roads, creating flood-like conditions. The worst-hit roads included PMA Kakul Road, Mirpur Mandian Road, Supply Road, Karakoram Highway, Sethi Masjid Road, Iqbal Road, Banda Dalazak, Banda Khair Ali Khan Road, Trakana, and Link Road near Ciena Laboratory.
Drainage systems overflowed, allowing rainwater to enter houses and damage household goods.
