At least 21 dead as rains lash parts of country

ISLAMABAD: Heavy rains continued to lash different parts of the country on Sunday, causing destruction of properties and casualties as at least 21 people were killed and scores of others were wounded during the last 24 hours in separate incidents across the country.

Several plain and hilly areas of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Punjab received heavy downpours, which flooded streams and rivers, as well as caused landslides in mountainous regions.

In KP, at least nine people died in separate rain-related incidents, including four who drowned in a flood relay in Karak city on Sunday. The bodies of the victims were pulled out from the raging water during a search operation, rescue officials said.

As many people including women and children, sustained injuries in a roof collapse incident amid heavy rain in KP’s North Waziristan district.

Separately, another casualty was reported in Sindh by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Saturday.

Balochistan was the most affected province as heavy rains wreaked havoc, killing as many as 12 people in separate incident in a day, according to the Disaster Manag­ement Authority (PDMA).

The torrential downpours also left at least 32 people injured as a result of lightning strikes and floods with the rain spell also damaging 263 houses, of which 91 were completely destroyed.

Rain water entered houses and shops in low-lying areas in different cities and creating flood like situation, specifically in Mirpur Khas and Dadu streams.

As a result of heavy flow of floodwater, cracks appeared on two newly constructed bridges on a flood protection dyke in Dadu’s Tehsil Johi.

Meanwhile, stormy rains in Balochistan inundated roads and low-lying areas of Chaman and Sibi, whereas, Toba Achakzai, Killa Abdullah, Muslim Bagh, Badini, Khanozai, Ziarat, and other areas.

The roads leading to tourist spots above the Ziarat Valley were affected due to heavy rainfalls.

According to local administration, a high-level flood was passing through the Bolan River at the locality of Pinjra Bridge where Levies personnel were deployed for relief activities.

Meanwhile, a high-level flood was also witnessed in Nari Headworks, Talli River and Lehri River.

The recent torrential rains in Balochistan not only affected 312 acres of crops and 19-kilometre of roads but also resulted in the deaths of 106 animals.

In the wake of torrential monsoon rains in the country, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned of high to very high levels of flash flooding in Balochistan and south-western Punjab in the days to come.

The alert from the country’s top disaster control authority indicated that the hill torrents and local nullahs in the Zhob, Kalat, Nasirabad, and Sibbi divisions are expected to experience high to very high levels of flash flooding, potentially damaging infrastructure.

A similar forecast was issued for the hill torrents and local nullahs in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.

The NDMA has instructed all relevant departments to take necessary precautions to mitigate the possible effects of flooding and extreme weather.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said earlier this week that the current monsoon system will remain in the north-western province till August 6, resulting in heavy rains with strong winds in Khuzdar, Lasbela, Awaran, Panjgur, Barkhan, Musa Khail, Harnai, Naseerabad, Jhal Magsi, Jaffarabad, Dera Bugti, Quetta, Ziarat, Killa Abdullah, Killa Saifullah and Kalat.

The monsoon season, as per the authorities’ statement issued on Friday, has resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people across Pakistan due to floods brought by torrential rains with Lahore witnessing almost 360 millimetres of rain which broke a 44-year record.

It is to be noted that the summer monsoon brings to South Asia about 70 to 80% of the region’s annual rainfall between June and September.

Global organisations, such as the United Nations, see Pakistan as one of the countries most vulnerable to extreme weather and climate change, with floods wreaking havoc in 2022, killing more than 1,700 people and displacing millions.

Meanwhile, at least six persons were killed as rain and flashfloods continued to batter parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday.

A woman and her son were killed when the roof of a house collapsed in Kot Murtaza village in Tank. The deceased were identified as the wife of Abdur Rahman, his daughter, 12, and son Waheed, 9. Three other family members identified as Naseebullah, 10, Adnan, 6, and Asmatullah, 5, sustained injuries in the incident. The injured were shifted to the hospital in Tank.

Also, floodwater swept away three persons in Lawaghar Algdah. The dead were identified as Shahzad, Auragzeb and Aryan, 12. Their bodies were later retrieved from water in Bannu.

A youth Muhammad, 17, a resident of Daraban, was swimming in the Zam Nullah when floodwater swept him away. His body was later recovered.

Torrential monsoon rains lashed Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, South Waziristan and other western parts of the province and triggered massive flooding in seasonal streams and nullahs swept away houses, roads and crops.

The floodwater in various streams and nullahs were swiftly gushing towards the Indus Rivers taking everything in its way along with and destroying mud-thatched houses and crops as well.

The Tank-South Waziristan road was closed to traffic due flooding while floodwater inundated a brick kiln, inflicting heavy losses on the owner.

The floodwater also submerged the electricity grid-station, suspending power supply. The floodwater was later pumped out by the personnel of Rescue 1122.

The district administration of Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, South Waziristan and others have issued flood alerts and asked the people to shift to safer places in case of emergency.

It was learnt that rain was continuing in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, South Waziristan in the Suleman Mountain Range, which further worsened the situation, forcing the people to shift to safer places.

According to reports, there was a pressure on Gomal Zam due to rain and flooding in Gajistan Zam, Chodhwan Zam, Darazinda Stream Lorah, Toya Stream, Sawan Zam and Tank Zam and others.

Meanwhile, the Kabul River could be in medium or high flood during the next 48 hours due to the flashfloods triggered by glacial lake outburst floods (Glofs) in Upper Chitral and Lower Chitral districts.

“There is no imminent threat of flooding in the Kabul River but the people living near the banks of the river should be vigilant of the emergency situation,” said a statement issued by Laiq Zada Laiq, the spokesperson for District Flood Control Centre.

He said that district government, Rescue 1122, Civil Defence, tehsil municipal administration and others had been put on high alert to meet any emergent situation arising out of the possible flooding.

He said that the next 48 hours were important as the flood currents in Kabul River would pass through Nowshera due to which water level in the river would go high and could cause damage and destruction in the low-lying areas.

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister has directed the imposition of an emergency in the affected areas of Upper Chitral due to monsoon rains, glacier bursts, and subsequent flash floods.

The Secretary of Relief has issued a declaration of a state of emergency for one month, effective immediately.

The monsoon rains and glacier bursts in Upper Chitral have caused widespread destruction, damaging roads, bridges, private and government buildings, and other infrastructure. In response,

KP chief minister has canceled the leave of the administration in Upper Chitral and instructed officials to be present on-site.

The emergency, which will remain in effect until August 30, aims to ensure that relief and rehabilitation activities are conducted on a war footing.

The CM has emphasized the need for immediate alternative arrangements for the victims and has called for swift action to address the devastation caused by the floods.