Latest news with #Pakistan-administered
Qatar Tribune
16 hours ago
- Climate
- Qatar Tribune
Rains, flash floods kill 21 in Pakistan
Agencies Flash floods and landslides have killed at least 21 people in 24 hours across Pakistan, taking the total death toll in this year's monsoon to 242. At least three people died in the northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan on Tuesday when a cloudburst caused floods and landslides, stranding more than 200 tourists who were later rescued, officials said. 'So far, we have rescued between 200 and 250 people in various areas who arrived for tourism purposes. All of them are Pakistani nationals. Meanwhile, between 15 to 20 people are still missing, and search efforts are ongoing,' Farmanullah Khan, a government official in Gilgit-Baltistan, told Al Jazeera. Officials said the rescued tourists were moved to the city of Chilas, where they were provided shelter in hotels and guesthouses. 'Rescue operations are actively under way to locate missing tourists with military personnel participating in the efforts. Helicopters will be deployed for rescue if necessary,' Faizullah Faraq, spokesperson for the Gilgit-Baltistan government, said in a statement. On Monday, at least four other tourists were killed and 15 went missing due to the floods in the region's Diamer district. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Tuesday said at least 10 people died in neighbouring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, including six children. The NDMA said most of the deaths were caused by house collapses as above-average rains pounded the South Asia nation, still recovering from the floods of 2022, which killed nearly 1,700 people and displaced more than 30 million. Advertisement An NDMA official told Al Jazeera the rains this year have been more intense compared with last year. 'This is the fourth spell during this monsoon and is expected to go on till July 25,' he said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media. On Tuesday, the NDMA issued a landslide alert for several northern areas, including parts of both Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast widespread rain, winds and thundershowers for Tuesday across northern Pakistan and parts of Punjab province. Pakistan, which has a population of about 250 million, is one of the world's most vulnerable countries to climate change. It is also home to more than 7,000 glaciers – the largest outside the Earth's polar regions. On June 26, Gilgit-Baltistan's Disaster Management Authority warned of an increased risk of glacial lake outburst floods and flash floods and asked people to avoid approaching rivers, streams and other waterways. Zakir Hussein, director general of the authority, said that while warnings help reduce the presence of tourists, they are not always enough. 'Generally, tourists pay attention to our warning notices. Those who still choose to come are either those who did not see the warning or those who have some urgency to visit,' Hussein told Al Jazeera. 'At the end of the day, it is weather prediction, but considering the severity of the consequences, people should take it seriously.' Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the capital, Islamabad, two people riding in a car were swept into a storm drain at a residential complex. A video circulating on social media showed the vehicle being carried away by floodwaters into the drain. Rescue officials have launched a search for the missing passengers. Abdul Moiz, a local pharmacy owner, said only a few shops were open in the area on Tuesday due to the relentless rain.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
At least three killed in landslide, heavy rains in northern Pakistan
A landslide triggered by torrential monsoon rains has killed at least three people in northern Pakistan, according to local officials, as operations continued to rescue 15 missing people. More than eight vehicles were swept away on Monday when heavy rains triggered a landslide on a highway in Gilgit-Baltistan's Diamer district, Abdul Hameed, Diamer's district police officer, told the AFP news agency on Tuesday. 'Three dead bodies have been recovered and more than 15 are still missing.' Flash floods, collapsed buildings and electrocutions have killed 221 people since the monsoon season arrived in the country in late June, with heavier rains than usual. Several of the victims were tourists from other parts of Pakistan visiting the popular tourist destination of Gilgit-Baltistan, a province in Pakistan-administered Kashmir renowned for its lush valleys and crystal-clear lakes. Hameed said at least 10 vehicles were buried under the debris. 'The rescue operation has been launched again at 6:00am today [01:00 GMT],' he added. 'Rescuers also evacuated four injured people, one of whom is in a critical condition', said Faizullah Faraq, spokesman for the provincial government, confirming three deaths to AFP. 'Hundreds of trapped tourists have since been brought to safety; government teams cleared debris and escorted them off the mountain road, while local villagers provided emergency shelter and assistance,' Faraq added. Floods in the area on Monday have damaged 50 houses, four bridges, a hotel, and a school, as well as blocked major highways and damaged communication signals. Elsewhere in Pakistan The remainder of Pakistan has not been spared, with 221 killed nationwide in incidents related to the monsoon since June 26. The death toll includes '104 children and 40 women', with more than 500 people also injured, Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority said Tuesday. A spokeswoman for the agency told AFP that the heavy rains usually start later in the monsoon season. 'Such death tolls are usually seen in August, but this year the impact has been markedly different,' she said. The national meteorological service warns that the risk of heavy rain and possibly flash floods remains high in the country's northern and eastern provinces, with the risk of floods and landslides. In mid-June, at least 65 people were killed and nearly 300 injured within 24 hours when monsoon rains hit Punjab province, which borders India. In late June, at least 13 tourists were swept to their deaths while sheltering from flash floods on a raised river bank in another province in northern Pakistan. The rains are a routine part of South Asia's climate and are essential for crop irrigation and replenishing water supplies. However, their adverse effect has worsened in recent years due to rapid urban expansion, poor drainage systems, and more frequent extreme weather events linked to climate change. The country is still struggling to recover from the devastating floods of 2022, which affected almost a third of the country and more than 33 million people. About 1,700 people were killed, and much of the harvest was lost. Solve the daily Crossword
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First Post
a day ago
- Politics
- First Post
Pakistan bans night travel from Punjab to Balochistan over 'security' concerns
The district administration of Dera Ghazi Khan has issued a circular prohibiting traffic from crossing into Pakistan-administered Balochistan after 5 pm. All vehicles will now be able to enter or leave the province only in daylight hours read more Pakistan will no longer allow private or public vehicles to enter Balochistan at night to prevent any 'untoward incident', as the situation in the region remains tense. The district administration of Dera Ghazi Khan has issued a circular prohibiting traffic from crossing into Pakistan-administered Balochistan after 5 pm. All vehicles will now be able to enter or leave the province only in daylight hours. 'The protection of citizens' lives and property is the top priority, and security measures are being made more effective and comprehensive,' Deputy Commissioner and Chairman Regional Transport Authority Muhammad Usman Khalid said, according to Dawn. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What other measures have been imposed? In addition to the nighttime travel ban, a formal notification detailed several other safety protocols. Authorities will record video footage of drivers and passengers on all public transport vehicles at bus terminals prior to departure. Vehicles will also operate under tight security, moving in protected convoys. The directive further requires all public transport vehicles to be equipped with active CCTV cameras, GPS tracking systems, and emergency panic alarms to enable a rapid response in case of any crisis. Balochistan on boil The region has been making news for quite some time as isolated cases of violence surface from Balochistan, with the Pakistan government expressing concern over the situation. Last weekend, a deadly armed conflict exploded in Pakistan's Chaman, killing 7 people and injuring over 12 others. The clashes broke out between two opposing groups in Balochistan. Meanwhile, last week, authorities recovered the bullet-riddled bodies of nine bus passengers who were kidnapped by insurgents during a series of attacks in the province. The separatist Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) claimed responsibility, accusing the victims, identified as labourers, of spying for Pakistani intelligence agencies. Baloch separatists, long demanding a larger share of regional resources, have previously targeted individuals from the eastern province of Punjab in similar killings.
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First Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Pakistan: 7 killed in deadly armed clashes in Balochistan's Chaman, over a dozen injured
Seven people killed and over a dozen others injured after armed clashes exploded in Chaman, a town in Pakistan-administered Balochistan read more A deadly armed conflict exploded in Pakistan's Chaman on Sunday, killing 7 people and injuring over 12 others. The clashes broke out between two opposing groups in the Pakistan-administered Balochistan province, Ary News reported. Police sources told the Pakistani news outlet that one of the critically injured victims succumbed to injuries later, raising the death toll to 7. It is pertinent to note that Chaman is a precarious border town located in Balochistan near the Afghan frontier. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As per the report, the conflict demanded an urgent intervention by Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, who somehow managed to stop the fighting. However, the persistence of high tension in the region has led to the blockage of the Quetta-Chaman highway by one of the groups at Qila Abdullah, Ary News reported. This eventually resulted in a massive traffic jam with long queues of stranded vehicles. One among many Soon after the clashes were controlled, local officials, including the Deputy Commissioner of Qila Abdullah, tribal elders, and religious scholars, gathered at the Jungle Pir Alizai police station to evaluate the situation. What makes the matter concerning is the fact that the Chaman armed unrest is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have taken over the province. The town itself faces instability due to tribal arguments and border tensions. However, what makes the incident significant is the fact that the Quetta-Chaman highway blockade that followed has upset trade and travel between Pakistan and Afghanistan, highlighting the importance of the crucial route. The Pakistani authorities noted that efforts are being undertaken to negotiate with the parties involved and reopen the highway. In the meantime, security forces remain on high alert in the region. Amidst the chaos, on Sunday, a video showing the killing of a man and a woman in Balochistan circulated online and drew criticism. The public outrage eventually prompted actions from provincial officials, Ary News reported. The video led the government to send footage to NADRA for biometric analysis. Eventually, officials successfully identified the individuals and tribal ties involved. However, the name of the prime suspect remains hidden. Interestingly, Shahid Rind mentioned that such acts are not authorised by Pakistani law, and tribal councils (jirgas) have no legal standing in resolving criminal matters. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Climate
- Indian Express
Heavy monsoon rains in Pakistan kill 54 people in 24 hours
Heavy monsoon rains killed at least 54 people in eastern Pakistan in 24 hours, bringing the total rain-related deaths in the country to 178 over the past three weeks, officials said Thursday. Rainfall has triggered flash floods and inundated several villages as the country experiences 82% more rainfall this month compared to the same period in July 2024, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said. Since June 26, Pakistan has reported 178 deaths from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the northwest, Sindh in the south and Balochistan in the southwest, officials said. The 54 deaths in the past day occurred in Punjab province, which received 124% more rainfall between July 1 and July 15 than the same period the previous year, forecasters said. Heavy downpours continued Thursday, flooding streets in several urban areas including Rawalpindi and Lahore. Cloudburst in the Jhelum district in Punjab triggered flash flooding, prompting authorities to use boats to evacuate dozens of people. The National Disaster Management Authority issued an updated flood alert Thursday and urged local officials to remain on high alert. Tourists were advised to avoid travel to affected areas where rains could trigger landslides and block highways. Television news footage Thursday showed an army helicopter plucking three members of a family from the roof of their house after they were stranded by a flash flood on the outskirts of Rawalpindi city. More rain is expected in the capital Islamabad, Pakistan-administered Kashmir and other parts of the country, the meteorological department reported. Authorities have warned they cannot rule out a repeat of extreme weather like the 2022 floods that inundated a third of the country, killing 1,737 people.
