By Aamir Latif
KARACHI, Pakistan
Heavy rains and flooding in Pakistan have killed as many as 67 people in the past week, officials said.
At least 10 people died Monday as monsoon rains hit parts of northeastern Punjab and southern Sindh provinces. More than half of the deaths came from the northwestern Chitral valley, Ahmad Kamal, spokesman for the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), told Anadolu Agency.
Raging floods that have already affected 500,000 people across the country washed away scores of houses and roads in Rajanpur district where, according to local authorities, at least 60 villages and a large portion of agricultural land had been submerged by the floodwater.
Many victims accused local authorities of inaction, saying they had to reach safer ground by themselves using small boats.
“We could not collect even enough clothes to wear and food to eat because the authorities asked us to immediately vacate the area,” local farmer Ghulam Hussein Jhakrani told reporters. “We don’t have even potable water to drink. We are drinking rainwater, which is causing different waterborne diseases, especially among children.”
Hundreds are still said to be stranded while many also evacuated their homes in the adjoining Layyah, Bhakkar, DG Khan and Muzzafergadh districts.
The army was called out to assist rescue operations in Sindh and other areas declared sensitive because of the overflowing Indus river.
The army said more than 10,000 people have been rescued from the heavily-hit northeastern areas of Pakistan.
