Heavy downpours in Pakistan result in 299 deaths, National Disaster Management Authority issues rainfall alert for potential further other deaths.
Pakistan is grappling with a severe flooding crisis, as the death toll from monsoon rains and subsequent floods has risen sharply to over 300. The relentless monsoon rains since late June have triggered severe flash floods, landslides, and infrastructure collapse in various regions across the country.
According to reports from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), at least 302-303 people have lost their lives, including 140 children, 102 men, and 57 women. The most affected regions include Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (notably Swat district), Islamabad, Gilgit Baltistan, and parts of northern and central Pakistan.
The NDMA and provincial disaster management authorities have reported that a total of 1,676 houses have been damaged or destroyed, and 428 livestock have been lost. The Swat district in KP has recorded the highest number of deaths during the floods caused by heavy rains and flash floods. Punjab has reported the highest regional death toll, with over 164 deaths.
Relief efforts are underway to address the crisis. The NDMA has conducted 223+ rescue operations, evacuating nearly 2,880 people from affected areas. Over 13,000 relief items have been distributed, including tents, ration bags, life jackets, hygiene kits, food packs, and dewatering pumps.
The NDMA and Pakistan Meteorological Department have issued warnings for continued flooding due to fresh monsoon waves expected between August 5 and 10. They forecast intensified rainfall and rising river flows in major rivers like the Jhelum and Chenab, which may worsen the situation.
In Islamabad, evacuations have been ordered in vulnerable neighborhoods such as Chattha Bakhtawar, and water levels at Rawal Dam have led authorities to open spillways to manage overflow.
Elsewhere, Balochistan is expected to remain mostly hot and humid, though some rainfall is possible in the northeast and south on August 6. Sindh is likely to stay largely hot and humid, with light rain expected along the coast. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Islamabad are expected to be affected, while rainfall in Gilgit-Baltistan is likely to begin on August 5.
The flooding comes at a time when Pakistan is already grappling with a severe water crisis. The seasonal rains are crucial for replenishing water supplies, but the scale of the flooding has raised concerns about the impact on the country's water resources.
Sources:
- NDMA
- Geo News
- Pakistan Today
- Al Jazeera
- Reuters
- In the midst of Pakistan's severe flooding crisis, there's increasing worry about its impact on the country's environmental-science, particularly water resources.
- picturesque Swat district, noting it as the region with the highest number of deaths caused by flash floods and heavy rains, falls under the jurisdiction of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's general-news.
- Amidst the disaster, politics have come into play as relief efforts are underway, with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) coordinating rescue operations and distributing relief items such as hygiene kits, life jackets, tents, ration bags, and dewatering pumps.
- As the weather continues to pose a threat with more monsoon waves expected between August 5 and 10, crime-and-justice might temporarily take a back seat as authorities prioritize addressing the ongoing flooding crisis.
