KP govt announces compensation for rain victims

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced a compensation package for the people affected by recent rains.

Three hundred thousand rupees will be given to the heirs of each deceased, Radio Pakistan reported.

Every critically injured person will receive one hundred thousand rupees while those having minor wounds will get fifty thousand rupees.

The owners of the destroyed houses will receive one hundred thousand rupees and those whose houses have been partially damaged will get fifty thousand rupees.

At least 30 people, including women and children, were buried alive on Monday as a landslide hit houses in Thor Nullah village in Kohistan district. Rescue services managed to recover five people alive and two bodies.

District Police Officer of Kohistan Tehmat Ali told reporters that policemen of four police stations situated near the affected village had been ordered to arrive at the spot and take part in rescue activities.

The official said though he was not sure about the number of people who were trapped, the locals told him that they could be more than 30.

He said the 26 foreigners from Germany, China and Korea working on various projects in Kohistan were safe as they were in contact with the police.

There were also reports that some foreigners were stranded in Pattan town in Kohistan because the Karakoram Highway was blocked by landslides.

Over 150 houses have been destroyed in the torrential rains.