180 Dead as Pakistan Floods Worsen

At least 180 people have been killed and more than 500 have been injured since early July as Pakistan weathers a monsoon season up to 60 percent more intense than previous years, reports the Dawn.

The figures came from the country’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) as the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast more rain, wind, and thundershowers in the coming days. Sindh is likely to be affected, as are the cities and districts of Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Thatta, Badin, Larkana, Jacobabad, Nawabshah, and Mirpurkhas.

Urban flooding alerts have been issued for low-lying parts of Sindh, and citizens have been advised to stay indoors, avoid travelling to vulnerable areas, and ensure household drainage systems stay clear.

Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has also forecast a fourth spell of monsoon rains starting on Sunday, with strong winds, dusty winds, and rain in most Punjab districts until Jul 25.

Rain with strong winds is forecast in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Gujrat, Jhelum and Gujranwala with chances of rain in Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Sargodha, Mianwali, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar from Jul 18-23.

The Punjab PDMA also issued high-level flood pre-alerts for all major rivers and associated streams, warning of potential flooding from Jul 22. Water levels are expected to rise in the Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi, Sutlej and Indus rivers, along with their tributaries and low-lying areas, posing significant risks, according to the Flood Forecasting Division.

The monsoon and glacial melt pose serious risks of flash floods in the Kabul, Swat, Panjkora, Bara and Kalpani Nullah rivers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Islamabad and central Punjab are expected to see moderate to heavy rain through Jul 24, elevating the risk of urban flooding.

A total of 1,594 people have been rescued from rain and flood-related emergencies by emergency workers in Punjab, according to Pakistan Secretary Emergency Services Dr Rizwan Naseer.

Of them, 449 were seriously injured and shifted to hospitals. A total of 119 deaths were confirmed in the province, with dilapidated building collapses accounting for the majority of fatalities.

Since Jun 25, 369 building collapse incidents, 23 electrocutions, 62 rain-related crashes and multiple other emergencies have been reported, Dr Naseer said.

This year’s unusually severe monsoon was forecast four months in advance, according to NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik. Speaking to PTV News, he attributed the intense rainfall and disaster risk to climate change and accelerated glacier melting.