The ongoing monsoon rains have wreaked havoc across Pakistan, resulting in a tragic toll of 133 lives lost and 215 people injured since June 25, according to a report by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Among the victims, 21 were women and 55 were children.
The relentless downpours have also caused extensive damage to properties, with 368 houses reported to be damaged across the country.
The worst-hit regions are Punjab, where 65 fatalities occurred, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where 35 lives were lost. Additionally, six people lost their lives in Balochistan due to the heavy rains, as per the NDMA report.
The Meteorological Office had earlier warned of the possibility of urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, and Lahore from July 20th to 22nd. The weather report also highlighted the potential risk of landslides in vulnerable areas of Murree.
The continuous monsoon currents from both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are affecting various parts of the country. The presence of a westerly wave is influencing the upper regions of Pakistan.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a cautionary note, stating that heavy rainfall may lead to flooding in local Nullahs of Dera Ghazi Khan and adjoining areas of Balochistan during the forecast period.
The situation remains critical, and authorities are closely monitoring the weather patterns to ensure timely responses and disaster management efforts.
