SWABI: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Tuesday said that his government would provide all possible assistance to flood-hit people to help them pick up the pieces.

“We’ll give away Rs2 million to everyone who died in the recent floods and build their houses. However, the houses will be built in a place where there is no danger to them in the future. We stand with our people in this critical hour,” the chief minister told reporters at the deputy commissioner’s office here.

He was briefed by the district administration’s officials about the devastation caused by downpour and floods in Dalori village on Monday morning.

Officials said 23 bodies, including those of women and children, had been recovered, while the operation to recover more in the village was under way.

Assures all possible help to Swabi flood victims

Representatives of the relevant departments and PTI leaders also attended the briefing.

The chief minister said authorities would use modern technology to prevent such a huge damage to public life and property in the future.

He said that 127 people were missing across the province following the recent flooding. He praised government agencies and rescuers for their effective response to the disaster to save lives.

Mr Gandapur also appreciated the people’s “timely and effective” participation in the government’s rescue and relief operations.

He noted that some government employees were unhappy over the deduction of their one-day salary for the relief of flood victims though taxes collected from the people were utilised to pay officials.

The chief minister insisted that most government employees welcomed the government’s move. He advocated for a five-day deduction from the salary of public sector employees.

He said that the Punjab government should have sent its machinery to KP for flood relief and rescue operations.

Mr Gandapur said that a strict action would be carried out against those who blocked the natural waterways through encroachments.

He said the courts shouldn’t issue stay orders against encroachments.

Thechief minister assessed rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts in Gadoon villages, devastated by flash floods.

During a high-level meeting at the deputy commissioner’s office, officials briefed him on those operations.

The meeting was attended by chief secretary Syed Shahab Ali Shah, commissioner Nisar Ahmad, deputy commissioner Nasrullah Khan, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, MNA Shahram Khan Tarakai, provincial cabinet members, and senior civil officials.

The commissioner and DC informed the chief minister that 20 bodies had so far been recovered from flood debris in the Darolai area, while 14 disaster victims were still missing.

They said that in the Sarokai village, a house’s roof collapsed, killing four members of a family.

The officials said that currently, over 200 Rescue 1122 personnel, 50 Pakistan Army soldiers, 40 civil defence volunteers and 50 volunteers from Al-Khidmat Foundation were actively participating in the around-the-clock relief operations.

They said that the district administration was ensuring the provision of food, clean drinking water and other essential goods to the affected families and frontline workers.

The chief minister expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and property and told victims that the government firmly stood with them.

“We will utilise all provincial resources to ensure the immediate compensation and rehabilitation of the flood victims,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2025