Pakistani rescue workers and local residents search for dead bodies from the rubble of destroyed homes caused by a landslide in Dirbala, about 250 kilometers (150 miles) north of Peshawar, Pakistan. Rescuers searched for survivors Saturday after rain-triggered landslides and lightning killed more than 80 people, including women and children, and destroyed homes in three remote villages in northwestern Pakistan, officials said. (AP Photo/Delawar Jan)
100 Feared Dead In Thunderstorms, Flash Flood In Pakistan
July 21, 2007 8:00 a.m. EST
Siddique Islam - AHN South Asia Correspondent
Peshawar, Pakistan (AHN) - Severe thunderstorms and lightening that struck three villages in northwest Pakistan have killed more than 70 people and officials say the death toll could reach at least 100, including women and children. The storms, in the remote Usherai Darra area, triggered a flash flood.
More than 20 houses, a mosque and dozens of cattle were washed away on Friday evening in the flood, local media reported quoting police and local people.
"We have retrieved 72 bodies so far from the river and the number of dead might increase to about 100 as people are still busy in searching for bodies swept away by the flood," said local Pakistan Muslim League (PML) leader Nisar Hamza was quoted by the Dawn, a local newspaper, as saying.
On Saturday, rescuers searched for survivors after rain-triggered landslides and lightning killed more than 70 people and destroyed homes in two remote villages in the area, officials said.
The villages are located about 150 miles north of Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier province.
Dozens of people were still missing in the villages in Dirbala district, which was battered by heavy rains and storms on Friday, a local police official told media. The official also said he could confirm more than 70 deaths.
Meanwhile, Federal Interior Minister of Pakistan Aftab Ahmad Sherpao has expressed grief over the loss of lives. He gave assurances that the federal government, together with the provincial government, would do its utmost to provide immediate relief to the victims.
In a statement, Sherpao offered condolences to the bereaved families and said that the federal government would take all necessary measures to provide relief to them.
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Hunt on for survivors of landslides
RESCUERS in Pakistan searched for survivors today after landslides and lightning killed more than 70 people and destroyed homes in two remote villages, officials said.
Dozens of people were still missing in the villages in Dirbala district, which was battered by heavy rains and storms yesterday, said local police official Khan Walizada.
The villages are located about 150 miles north of Peshawar.
Dir flood victims await relief
PESHAWAR: After the recent flood in Upper Dir district the number of casualties is still not clear. Flood-affected people have no shelter, food, medicines or clothing.
The flood washed away around two dozen houses and a mosque in the Banria area. According to the local government, the death toll was around 48 and was likely to rise. “There were some jirga members in the mosque which was washed away, but we don’t know how many they,” Upper Dir District Coordination Officer (DCO) Ajmal Khan said.
Shakir, a resident, said there were around 60 people in the mosque when the flood washed it away. Most of them had taken shelter in the mosque. Station House Officer Zafar said the death toll was 46 after two bodies were recovered from the debris. Two people were rescued from the debris 24 hours after the flood. They were rushed to Upper Dir District Headquarters hospital.
Sher Rehman, who survived the flood, said he had heard deafening thunder and the whole village was covered with fog. A few policemen and hundreds of locals were busy rescuing people without necessary tools, with only five people removing the debris with spades. No official rescue operation was launched in the affected area till 12:30am. Upper Dir Nazim Sahibzada Tariqullah said the provincial government had assured him of flood relief assistance. “The chief minister has told me that he will visit the affected area as soon as the weather clears,” he said, adding that 500 tents, 1,000 blankets and two truckloads of food were on their way to the area. staff report
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