India adds water to raging floods as toll hits 69

• Four more killed as heavy downpour devastates parts of Sindh, Punjab and KP 

At least four people were killed on Monday, raising the toll of the number of people killed in rain and flood-related incidents to 69, as heavy monsoon rains and resulting flash floods swept through parts of Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhawa amidst reports that India had released its floodwater into Pakistan via River Sutlej and some 20,000 cusecs of water would pass by Ganda Singh border today (Tuesday).

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 69 people had lost their lives so far, 36 were injured, 1,855 houses damaged and 635 villages and 294,844 persons were affected across the country due to recent floods and heavy rainfall.

In Lashari village of Khairpur district in Sindh, roof of a house caved in due to heavy rain killing three people, including two children. In Sekha-Kot area of Malakand Agency, a person was killed and a child sustained injuries when roof of their house collapsed due to torrential rain.

Rains also caused 247 feeders of SEPCO – the main electricity distributer in Sukkur to trip, effectively disrupting electricity supply to 10 districts of Interior Sindh. Flood-affected people in Sukkur said they were yet to be provided relief by the government. In Hyderabad, overnight rain inundated several areas, with some areas drowned under several feet of rainwater.

Meanwhile, flood-waves continued to cause destruction in several parts of Rajanpur, where more than 60 villages have been inundated and land routes to several areas have been cut off. Local administration officials say they are carrying out aid and relief efforts.

Also, the death toll from flashfloods has risen to 36 in Chitral valley, where flood-waves have swept away several houses, bridges and powerhouses. In Chitral 7.2 tonnes of ration has been distributed through army helicopters and vehicles.

According to ISPR, 98 people have been rescued, including 48 stranded tourists, who were airlifted to Peshawar by a C-130 aircraft of Pakistan Air Force. An iron bridge has been installed by army engineers at Barooz near Chitral. Ten Mobile Utility Stores outlets established for affectees are distributing commodities among the affected population in the district.

On the directions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, services of FWO in coordination with Army have been provided to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for speedy repair of road infrastructure.

In Gilgit-Baltistan, 2,800 tents have been placed with district administration and out of this 243 tents have so far been distributed among the affectees.

In southern Punjab, the Pakistan Army has rescued about 9,000 people from the flood-hit areas and shifted them to safer places. The troops belonging to Multan corps have also provided medical facilities and distributed ration and tents among the flood affectees at several places in district Layyah.

Free medical camps were also set up at Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Alipur and Kot Mithan. Army is also assisting civil administration for evacuation of people from flood affected areas of Sadiqabad, Rahim Yar Khan, Khanpur and Liaqatpur.

Authorities on Monday issued flood warnings to different areas due to high-level flood in River Sindh. The authorities concerned have been instructed to have people evacuated from localities on and near river banks.