Pakistan: Monsoon rains claim 168 lives in one month

Islamabad: At least 168 people, including 69 children, have been killed in rain-related incidents across Pakistan during one month of rains, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Thursday. During this period, more than 250 injuries have been reported.

In its daily situation report, the NDMA has reported 11 deaths and five injuries in the past 24 hours due to continuous rains. Heavy monsoon rains continue to lash Pakistan, triggering landslides and flooding.

Fatalities and damages due to rains

The cumulative data from June 25 to July 27, 2023, reveals that the worst-hit region was Punjab, where 67 lives have been lost during the monsoon season. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) reported 46 fatalities, while Sindh province witnessed 21 causalities. Tragic incidents such as roof collaps-es, electrocution, drowning, landslides and lightning strikes have resulted in a high number of fatalities.

The rains have left a trail of destruction, with a total of 1,200 houses partially or fully damaged during one month of rains. Sindh recorded the highest number of damaged houses at 342, fol-lowed by Balochistan with 302 houses damaged. At least 299 properties were affected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Additionally, around 374 livestock also perished in the rains and floods. The rains have also impacted crops, including cotton, prompting farmers to take urgent measures to protect their yields.

More rains forecast until July 30

This year’s relentless monsoon rains have led to a surge in river levels across Punjab province, posing a serious threat and forcing the relocation of people to safer areas. NDMA said in its latest advisory that “moderate to heavy flash flooding is expected in River Kabul at Nowshera along with tributaries of Rover Kabul and hill torrents of DG Khan division during next 72 hours.”

The authority has warned that heavy monsoon rains would lash various areas of the country in the next 48 to 72 hours.

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a significant weather outlook, predicting scattered rains, winds and thundershowers in different regions of Punjab, KP and Balochistan from July 27 to 30. The Met Office alerted residents about the possibility of flash flooding in Balochistan.

“Heavy rains may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpin-di, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Lahore, and Faisalabad from July 27 (night) to 29 and may trigger landslides in the vulnerable areas of Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and hilly areas of KP” during the three-day period, Met office said in its July 27 advisory.

Last year, Pakistan faced unprecedented rains and floods that killed 1,700 people, affected 33 million people and submerged one-third of the country. The floods also caused $30 billion in losses.