PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) successfully mitigated potential catastrophes and minimized loss of life during the recent monsoon season through proactive contingency planning and quick emergency response, despite severe flash floods and landslides across northern districts.
Reviewing the season’s disaster management efforts, Anwar Shehzad, Public Relations Officer (PRO) for PDMA KP, stated that weather patterns closely mirrored the early forecasts issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
While southern regions experienced below-normal rainfall accompanied by high temperatures, northern districts, specifically Upper Chitral, Lower Chitral, Swat, Malakand, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Upper Kohistan, and Lower Kohistan - were hit by above normal rainfall.
Shehzad added that structural vulnerability posed the main threat to human life during the season.
"Most casualties resulted from roof and wall collapses caused by heavy, prolonged rainfall," Shehzad added. While flash floods severely impacted infrastructure in Upper and Lower Chitral, frequent landslides disrupted key transportation corridors in the Hazara division and Galiyat. Furthermore, severe downpours triggered urban flooding in Swabi, inundating several residential areas.
Despite these challenges, he highlighted that “early preparation” prevented larger-scale relief emergencies.
Ahead of the monsoon, PDMA KP formulated a comprehensive contingency plan, activating early warning systems and specialized Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) sensors across vulnerable catchments. The authority also identified 184 potential emergency relief camps statewide.
"Because sensitive districts were declared vulnerable beforehand, PDMA dispatched essential funds, relief items, and non-food supplies directly to district administrations in advance," the spokesperson said.
When high water levels threatened communities in Chitral, emergency teams proactively evacuated residents to safe locations and relief camps. In Swabi, emergency crews deployed heavy de-watering pumps to clear submerged neighborhoods quickly.
To protect the influx of tourists visiting northern hill stations, PDMA coordinated with local administrations to enforce Section 144 in hazard-prone spots and activated the Tourist Police.
With the primary monsoon window now over, Shehzad said that current meteorological outlooks indicate no immediate threat of heavy rainfall spells during the ongoing post-monsoon phase, though monitoring teams remain fully alert.