Pakistan warns of ‘more intense' monsoon rains from today as death toll rises to 279
The Met Office warned last week that monsoon currents penetrating into Pakistan's upper and central parts are likely to intensify from Monday while a westerly wave is also expected to approach the country on Tuesday. The Met Office had also warned that heavy rains may generate flash floods in local nullahs and streams across the country.
Monsoon rains in Pakistan have wreaked havoc since June 26, killing 279 people and injuring 676 across the country, according to data by the National Disaster Management Authority's (NDMA) latest situation report. Punjab has reported the highest number of deaths, 151, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with 64, Sindh with 25, Balochistan with 20, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) nine, Islamabad eight and Azad Kashmir two casualties.
'Another monsoon spell will affect the country's northern areas from today,' PMD Deputy Director Anjum Nazir Zaigham told Geo News, a private news channel, on Monday morning. 'And this spell will be more intense than the previous one.'
Zaigham said the fresh monsoon spell is expected to trigger rainfall in almost all parts of Punjab, GB, KP, Azad Kashmir and the northern areas of Balochistan province.
'This spell will begin today while tomorrow and the day after will be very important,' he said.
FLOODS, LANDSLIDE ALERTS
Separately, the NDMA issued flood alerts for various areas of GB and Azad Kashmir from July 28 to 31.
According to the disaster management authority, it said rain is expected in Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza, and Shigar areas of GB as well as in Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley, and Bagh in Azad Kashmir during the forecast period.
'These rains may lead to flooding, while heavy showers in hilly regions may also trigger landslides,' it said.
It said In Chitral Valley, Buni and Reshun areas, rainfall combined with melting glaciers may result rise in the water flow of River Chitral while urban flooding is also likely in Azad Kashmir's Muzaffarabad and Bagh areas due to heavy downpours.
'NDMA has directed all relevant departments and agencies to take proactive measures, ensure the readiness of personnel, machinery, and rescue teams, and remain vigilant to deal with any emergency situation,' the statement said.
'Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) and local administrations have been instructed to take timely preventive actions.'
Pakistan, which ranks among the world's most climate-vulnerable nations, has witnessed increasingly erratic weather events in recent years.
In May, at least 32 people were killed in severe storms, while a third of the country was submerged by devastating floods in 2022 that killed more than 1,700 people, affected over 30 million and caused an estimated $35 billion in damages.
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