PESHAWAR – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) currently faces a severe climate crisis. The province deals with an intense heatwave and rising fears of natural disasters. While the Health Department has mobilized emergency medical resources, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a high alert for flooding in the province’s northern belt.
Heatwave Response: Emergency Medical Camps
The Health Department proactively established 30 heatwave points across 10 districts of KP. These centers provide immediate relief to citizens.
Also Read: Cloudbursts, floods kill over 150 in KP as climate extremes intensify
- Staff have provided first aid to 142 individuals so far.
- The department deployed 69 medical personnel to manage these camps.
- Officials mobilized 14 vehicles for the transport and support of heat-affected individuals.
- These centers stock essential medicines and clean drinking water.
- Trained staff assist citizens at every location.
- The camps occupy strategic locations at major business hubs and bus terminals in districts like Peshawar, Swat, and Mardan.
Glacial lake outburst floods Northern Districts on High Alert for Flooding
The PDMA issued a high alert for eight vulnerable northern districts due to the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) and flash flooding. Intense heat and heavy rainfall have caused glaciers and snowpacks to melt at an alarming rate.
Also Read: Cloudbursts, floods kill over 150 in KP as climate extremes intensify
- Districts under high alert include Upper and Lower Chitral, Upper and Lower Dir, Swat, Upper and Lower Kohistan, and Mansehra.
- These regions face multiple hazards.
- Hazards include mudslides, rockfalls, and potential damage to road and communication networks.
- The PDMA warned that sudden surges in rivers and streams could trigger severe flooding in low-lying areas.
Safety Advisories and Emergency Preparedness
The PDMA directed district administrations to implement precautionary measures.
- Administrations must issue early warnings and conduct evacuation drills for high-risk communities.
- Rescue 1122, the National Highway Authority (NHA), and other agencies remain on standby.
- Teams pre-deployed heavy machinery to strategic locations.
- The PDMA strongly urges the public and tourists to stay away from riverbanks and seasonal streams.
- Rising temperatures make water flows unpredictable and dangerous.
- The authority advises travelers to avoid unnecessary trips to sensitive northern areas.
- Citizens can report emergencies or untoward incidents to the PDMA helpline at 1700.
