Severe flash flooding has hit several districts of north-western Pakistan, killing at least 53 people, with another 34 injured. Torrential rains began on the evening of Saturday 2 April in several districts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. A marketplace on the outskirts of Peshawar was destroyed by rushing water. Vendors and residents were seen struggling to salvage their belongings.
Residents cross a flooded street following heavy rain on the outskirts of PeshawarA Majeed /AFP
"We're left on our own. Nobody from the government is coming to help us," said Habib Khan, who lives in the northern Swat valley, when he spoke to a local TV news channel. The channel showed damaged houses and swamped streets in the valley and other areas of the north-western province.
Residents who live close to rivers have been advised to leave their homes and move to safer places, Latif ur Rehman, a Pakistani national disaster management official, told the Associated Press.
Flood waters rush through a marketA Majeed /AFPMen stand over their vehicles submerged by flood water following heavy rain on the outskirts of PeshawarA Majeed /AFPFlood waters rush through a market area as a man tries to salvage materials on the outskirts of PeshawarA Majeed /AFP
The flooding happened ahead of South Asia's summer monsoon season, which usually begins in June. Current downpours such as this often cause damage in Pakistan, particularly in rural villages with minimal infrastructure.
People retrieve their belongings in the water caused by the flash floodingA Majeed /AFPMen stand over their vehicles that have been submerged by flood waterA Majeed /AFPVendors collect their belongings after the flooding destroyed a market areaA Majeed /AFPMarket stalls are destroyed by the waterA Majeed /AFPResidents cross a flooded street following heavy rain on the outskirts of PeshawarA Majeed /AFPA vendor tries to salvage materials after flood water destroyed his shopA Majeed /AFPPakistani residents remove debris from a damaged house after the heavy rain and floodingA Majeed /AFPResidents cross a flooded street following heavy rainA Majeed /AFPA vendor stands by flood waters rushing through a market area on the outskirts of PeshawarA Majeed /AFPA vendor sits under a shack as flood waters rush through a market areaA Majeed /AFPResidents cross a flooded street following heavy rain on the outskirts of PeshawarA Majeed /AFPPeople remove debris from a damaged house after heavy rains caused devastation on the outskirts of PeshawarA Majeed /AFPVendors and residents gather in flood watersA Majeed /AFPA vendor tries to salvage materials after flood water destroyed his shop following heavy rain on the outskirts of PeshawarA Majeed /AFPFlood waters rush through a Pakistani market area as vendors and residents attempt to save their possessionsA Majeed /AFPPeople gather in a market area which has been destroyed by the floodingA Majeed /AFP
