Pakistan restores electricity, reopens roads after floods kill hundreds

After more than 300 people were killed by flash floods in northwest Pakistan, the country has restored 70% of its electricity supply and reopened damaged roads.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced on Tuesday that engineers were working to restore the power system that had been affected by flooding last week.

More than 700 people have died in floods caused by monsoon rains since June 26, according to Tarar, who claims more than 25 000 have been evacuated.

The information minister claimed that the majority of the roads have been cleared, facilitating the transport of supplies for the flood-affected areas.

According to Ahmed Sharif, a spokesman for the Army, engineers are repairing damaged infrastructure and military doctors are treating survivors. Additionally, soldiers have transported food and supplies to remote villages that have been hit by floods and landslides using helicopters.

On Tuesday, monsoon rains poured down on the country, including the southern port city of Karachi, causing flooding to streets and preventing daily activities, according to officials. People could be seen wading through chest-high water along numerous roads, despite the government’s claims of being prepared.

At least 280 people were killed by torrential rains and a cloudburst on Friday in Buner, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to Tarar, who was informed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The flooding was among the worst since the rains first started.

According to the local district commissioner, there were 20 bodies discovered there on Tuesday.

According to rescue official Mohammad Suhail, about 150 people are still missing, according to the search team.

The government has been slow to intervene, according to angry villagers who claimed there was no warning broadcast from mosque loudspeakers as is frequently the case. Before residents could be informed, the government claimed the deluge occurred.

On Monday, Sharif presided over a high-level meeting to discuss relief efforts in flood-stricken regions.

Many Pakistani cities struggle to deal with the monsoon deluge each year, which is met with criticism for poor planning. From July through September, the monsoon season begins.