32 killed as flood wreaks havoc in Pakistan

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At least 32 people were killed as downpour and floods hit parts of northwest, eastern and northern Pakistan over the past 24 hours, local TV Geo reported on Thursday.

Northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the worst-hit area, where nine people were killed and 11 others injured due to rise in river level triggered by heavy rainfall in Nowshera district.

Meanwhile, in Mansehra district, six residents were killed and 11 others injured as several houses collapsed due to continuous raining.

The floodwater also inundated houses, washed away cattle and affected standing crops over thousands of acres of land in the province.

The provincial and district administration declared a state of emergency in the affected areas and launched rescue activities.

Meteorological office said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has received 140 mm rain over the past 24 hours and moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in the province during the next 48 hours that could lead to flashfloods of medium to high intensity.

Flood water washed away at least four people from northwest tribal areas and two people including a kid from low-lying areas of Pakistani-controled Kashmir.

In eastern province of Punjab, floodwater killed two people in Sialkot district. Many villages in Sialkot and near the river Ravi and Chanab were also inundated.

At least three kids were killed as a house collapsed due to continuous downpour in Rawalpindi, the sister city of Islamabad. The rain water also submerged roads and entered into the houses in low-lying areas in Rawalpindi.

The MET office have said that the low-level flood in river Ravi may turn into a high-level flood if the rain continues over the next 24 hours.

Heavy rains are also predicted in capital Islamabad and Punjab province during the next 24 hours.

Almost every year in monsoon season extending from July to September, Pakistan has to face floods. The most destructive flood hit the country in 2010 devastating parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh. The flood swept away 20 percent of the land, killed 1,540 people and injured 2,088. According to UN report, 557, 226 houses had been destroyed, and over 6 million people had been displaced in the flood.

In 2011, floodwater killed an estimated 270 civilians in southern Sindh province.

At least 5.3 million people were displaced and 1.2 million houses were destroyed.

In a report the MET office said Thursday that in 2012 floods are not likely to cause much destruction as monsoon season is already coming towards its end and fewer rains are likely to happen in the remaining days of the year.

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