In a devastating incident, at least eight children lost their lives in a landslide near a cricket ground in the mountainous Shangla district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Thursday.
Rescue officials from Rescue 1122 told The Express Tribune that the children were playing cricket in a local ground when they were buried alive by the landslide.
Initially, the local residents took the initiative to start the rescue operation, but for two hours, there was no sign of official assistance.
Eventually, the Rescue 1122 teams arrived at the difficult-to-access area and commenced the rescue efforts.
As of now, five bodies have been recovered from the rubble, but according to local witnesses, there are potentially more victims trapped.
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The district had experienced heavy rainfall throughout the night, and the possibility of landslides was apparent in certain areas. Tragically, the children overlooked the risks associated with the weather conditions. At the time of reporting, the rescue operation was still underway with the assistance of local residents.
In response to such monsoon-related disasters, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), working in conjunction with the relief, rehabilitation, and settlement department, is developing a monsoon contingency plan for 2023. This plan aims to identify hazards, vulnerabilities, and risks associated with the monsoon season, as well as mapping resources to minimize disaster risks and ensure a coordinated response. Multiple pre-planning and orientation meetings have been held with representatives from provincial line departments to establish roles and responsibilities. The PDMA is determined to reduce the impact of natural hazards on life and property, especially considering the significant losses suffered by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa due to floods in 2022.
The vulnerability of the region to climate contingencies during both summers and winters necessitates a comprehensive approach. The Monsoon Contingency Plan categorizes districts based on vulnerability and risk assessment, allowing for targeted mitigation measures.
The PDMA, in coordination with stakeholders, is implementing proactive preparedness measures to streamline response efforts at the provincial and district levels. This inclusive exercise takes stock of existing resources, conducts hazard analyses, and estimates likely relief caseloads as part of the planning process.
Speaking about the ongoing efforts, the spokesperson for PDMA highlighted the organization's commitment to disaster management, risk reduction, and preparedness. The installation of a flood early warning system in the upper catchment areas of the province demonstrates their proactive approach. This system, covering seven main rivers in the region, helps monitor water levels and enhances preparedness for potential flood events.
A pre-planning/orientation meeting was held in April with representatives of provincial line departments under the chairmanship of Director Disaster Risk Management, PDMA, Muhammad Amin.
On that occasion Muhammad Amin had said “We started the process of contingency planning by involving all stakeholders and these series of meetings will continue and hopefully contingency plan will be developed by the end of May 2023.
The climate change has increased the vulnerability, as weather patterns are shifting.
The Monsoon Contingency Plan will categoize the districts vulnerability and risk assessment into very high, high, medium and low categories.
The peculiar geography, terrain and natural resources make the K-P vulnerable to a number of climate contingencies.
The tragedy in Shangla district underscores the need for robust disaster management measures and heightened awareness of the risks posed by natural hazards. Efforts to strengthen preparedness, response, and mitigation measures are crucial in safeguarding lives and minimizing the impact of such unfortunate incidents.
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