Torrential rains leave 22 dead across Pakistan during last 24 hours  

ISLAMABAD: At least 22 people were killed and numerous others injured within the last 24 hours as torrential rains wreaked havoc across Pakistan on Sunday, causing extensive damage to life, property, and infrastructure.

Heavy downpours hit various plain and hilly regions of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Sindh, and Punjab, leading to flooding in streams and rivers and triggering landslides in mountainous areas.

In KP, nine people lost their lives in separate rain-related incidents, including four who drowned in floodwaters in Karak city. Rescue officials reported that the victims’ bodies were retrieved from the turbulent waters during a search operation.

Additionally, several individuals, including women and children, were injured when a house’s roof collapsed amid heavy rain in KP’s North Waziristan district. Another casualty was reported in Sindh by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Saturday.

Balochistan was the hardest hit, with rains and floods claiming 12 lives in separate incidents in a single day, according to the PDMA. The extreme weather, including cloudbursts and lightning strikes, injured at least 32 people and damaged 263 houses, 91 of which were completely destroyed.

Floodwaters entered homes and shops in low-lying areas of cities like Mirpurkhas and Dadu. The heavy flow of floodwater caused cracks in two newly constructed bridges on flood protection embankments in Dadu’s Tehsil Johi, and high-level flooding was reported in the Gaj and Sol rivers.

In Balochistan, stormy rains inundated roads and low-lying areas in Chaman and Sibi, and affected regions such as Toba Achakzai, Killa Abdullah, Muslim Bagh, Badini, Khanozai, and Ziarat. Roads leading to tourist spots above the Ziarat Valley were also impacted.

Local administration reported a high-level flood passing through the Bolan River at the Pinjra Bridge locality, where Levies personnel were deployed for relief efforts. High-level flooding was also observed in the Nari Headworks, Talli River, and Lehri River.

The recent torrential rains in Balochistan affected 312 acres of crops, 19 kilometers of roads, and resulted in the deaths of 106 animals.

In response to the severe monsoon rains, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned of high to very high levels of flash flooding in Balochistan and southwestern Punjab in the coming days. The alert indicated potential flash flooding in the hill torrents and local nullahs of the Zhob, Kalat, Nasirabad, and Sibbi divisions, which could damage infrastructure. A similar forecast was issued for the hill torrents and local nullahs in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.

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

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) stated earlier this week that the current monsoon system will persist in the northwestern province until August 6, causing heavy rains with strong winds in areas such as 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 noted in the authorities’ statement issued on Friday, has already resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people across Pakistan due to floods triggered by torrential rains, with Lahore experiencing nearly 360 millimeters of rain, breaking a 44-year record.

It is worth noting that the summer monsoon brings 70 to 80% of South Asia’s annual rainfall between June and September. Global organizations, including the United Nations, identify Pakistan as one of the countries most vulnerable to extreme weather and climate change. In 2022, floods caused by similar conditions resulted in over 1,700 deaths and displaced millions.