A dozen more people have been killed as heavy rainfall continued to pound northern and northwestern Pakistan on Saturday, pushing the death toll over the last week past the 50-mark, local officials and media have reported.
The latest fatalities occurred in different parts of Azad Kashmir (Pakistan-held Kashmir), due mainly to mudslides and roof collapses caused by heavy rainfall, the local Geo television channel reported.
On Friday, at least 10 people, including women and children, were killed in rain-related incidents in the restive North Waziristan tribal region and the Tank and Peshawar districts.
According to local officials, mudslides have blocked several roads linking the Kashmir Valley to rest of the country.
Footage on local television channels showed soldiers using heavy machinery to clear blocked roads.
Pakistan’s official meteorological agency, meanwhile, has said the current rain spell would likely continue for at least another 24 hours.
By Aamir Latif
