PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has set up a flood relief fund for victims of recent cloudbursts and flash floods.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur announced that he will donate his one-month salary, while provincial cabinet members will contribute 15 days of their salaries.
According to the government decision, members of the provincial assembly (MPAs) will contribute seven days of their salaries to the fund. Provincial government employees from grade 17 and above will donate two days’ salary, while grade 16 and below employees will contribute one day’s salary.
The chief minister said that a transparent system will be adopted to ensure proper use of these donations. A special account will be opened in the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) for this purpose.
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He added that every rupee of the fund will be accounted for, and details will be shared with the public. “Flood victims deserve our special attention and support. In this difficult time, everyone should generously help the affected families,” Gandapur said.
Cloudburst in Swabi causes devastation
Meanwhile, the country has entered another powerful spell of the monsoon season, with KP districts facing continuous heavy downpours. In Swabi, a cloudburst caused widespread destruction, leaving at least 15 people dead and several others injured, with fears that the death toll may rise.
Police officials said the cloudburst hit Darwodi area of Swabi, submerging dozens of houses. Many residents took refuge on rooftops to save their lives, while rescue teams managed to evacuate over 70 stranded people. Torrential rains also flooded houses in Swabi’s Razar, Lahore, and Topi tehsils, forcing residents to seek shelter on rooftops. In Stafa Mor Gadoon, several people were trapped by flash floods and are still awaiting help.
Hospital sources reported that in the remote hilly area of Gadoon Amazai’s Sarkoi Payan village, the roof of a house collapsed, killing four people, including two women and two children, while seven others were injured. The victims were shifted to Topi hospital.
Heavy rain also submerged Jehangira Road at Ambar and Khunda Mor, while in Turdhair, the wall of a private school collapsed. In another incident, a van was almost fully submerged in floodwaters.
Deputy Commissioner Swabi Nasrullah Khan confirmed that a cloudburst in Dalwodi village caused severe flooding, destroying several homes. He said the water flow was extremely fast due to the hilly terrain, also triggering landslides in different areas. The administration, rescue, and relief teams have reached the affected sites, while additional rescue units from Haripur and Mardan have been called in.
