Pakistan expects heavy monsoon rains until August 29, heaviest rains since July kills 243
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast torrential rains in many parts of the country this week until August 29, warning that they may trigger flash floods and landslides as the national death toll from rain-related incidents since July surges to 243.
The India Meteorological Department, in a press release issued on Friday, said a low pressure area over West Bengal is likely to approach southern India on August 25, resulting in strong monsoon airflow over southern India from August 25.
“Heavy rains may cause flooding and inundation in low-lying areas of Sindh, Balochistan and southern Punjab,” the weather department said.
According to the latest situation report released by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 243 people were killed and 447 injured in rain-related incidents across the country between July 1 and August 24.
The PMDs will be serving in Karachi, Hyderabad, Dadu, Thatta, Badin, Sajawal, Shahed Benazirabad, Jamshoro, Tando Arayar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tharparkar, Nagarparkar, Mithi, Mirpur Khas, Umarkot, Matiari, Sanghar, Sukkur, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Kashmore, Khairpur, Larkana, Jacobabad and Nowshero Feroze areas of Sindh from August 25 to 29 with occasional vacancies.
Meanwhile, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Murree, Ghaliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Tala Gan, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Siniot, Faisalabad, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal and Okara areas of Punjab from August 25 to 28.
From August 26 to 30, the areas affected were Khuzdar, Kalat, Lasbela, Awaran, Naseerabad, Sibi, Jafarabad, Khor, Harnai, Dera Bugti, Zhob, Quetta, Ziarat, Sherani, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Barkan in southwestern Balochistan, Musa Khel, Loralai, Mastun, Bolan, Jal Magsi, Kech, Panjgur, Gwadar, Jiwani, Pasni and Ormara.
The Meteorological Department said rain and thundershowers are also expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Bajaur, Mohammand, Khyber, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Swabi, Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda, Hangu, Kurram, Orakzai, Waziristan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan areas of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province from August 26 to 28.
Pakistan is known to be one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. This year, the South Asian nation recorded its “wettest April since 1961” with 59.3 mm of rainfall, and parts of the country were hit by severe heatwaves in May and June.
Unusually heavy rains have caused flash floods in many parts of Pakistan in 2022, killing more than 1,700 people, causing losses of around $30 billion and affecting at least 30 million people. Scientists have attributed Pakistan’s erratic weather patterns to the effects of climate change and called on countries around the world to take urgent steps to address the crisis.