PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur has issued a video statement outlining the provincial government’s ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts for victims of the recent floods.
He stated that since August 15, severe cloudbursts and heavy rainfall have caused devastation across several districts, including Buner, Swat, Shangla, Bajaur, Mansehra, and Swabi. The disaster has resulted in 406 deaths, 245 injuries, the destruction of 664 houses, and partial damage to another 2,431 homes. In addition, 511 roads, 77 bridges, and 2,123 shops were affected.
The Chief Minister said that the administration, rescue agencies, and relevant departments were immediately mobilized following the first cloudburst reported in Bajaur. Their prompt response made it possible to rescue more than 5,500 people.
A total of 2,061 rescue personnel equipped with 176 vehicles and boats were deployed, while medical and relief teams quickly reached the affected areas. So far, 136 link roads and 65 bridges have been restored. More than 119,000 individuals have been provided with cooked meals, 125 trucks of relief goods have been dispatched, and 70 medical camps have been set up in various locations.
Gandapur further announced an enhanced compensation package for the flood victims. The compensation amount for families of the deceased has been raised from Rs10 million to Rs20 million, while those injured will now receive Rs500,000, double the previous amount. Homeowners whose houses were destroyed will receive Rs1 million, and those with partially damaged homes will get Rs300,000. For the first time, compensation is also being provided to shopkeepers, with Rs500,000 allocated for destroyed shops and Rs100,000 for cleanup in cases where floodwaters entered their businesses. Farmers and livestock owners are also included in the compensation plan.
According to the Chief Minister, a total of Rs654 million has already been disbursed to the families of 350 deceased individuals, while pending cases involving minors are currently being processed through bank accounts opened by deputy commissioners.
Payments have also been made to 18 injured individuals, affected shopkeepers, and thousands of families through food stamps. Further disbursements amounting to billions of rupees are being prepared. Gandapur emphasized that all compensation is being distributed through a digital payment system to ensure transparency and announced a deadline of Sunday to complete all remaining payments to affected families.
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