ISLAMABAD: Heavy rainfall across Pakistan’s Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Kashmir regions has caused severe flooding, power outages, and infrastructure damage, leading to the deaths of at least 21 people. The torrential rains have resulted in widespread devastation, affecting communities, agriculture, and essential services.
In Sindh, torrential downpours have battered various districts, including Jamshoro, Mirpurkhas, and Nowshero Feroze. Jamshoro has seen significant impacts, with a roof collapse in the mountainous region resulting in the deaths of a woman and two others.
The continuous rain has submerged homes, swept away livestock, and cut off several villages. Other districts, such as Mirpurkhas and Nowshero Feroze, have experienced severe flooding, with major roads inundated and power outages affecting large areas. The persistent rains pose a significant threat to agriculture, raising concerns about potential crop losses.
Dadu city has been particularly hard hit, with a 10-hour downpour transforming the area into a vast pool of water. Roads are impassable, and low-lying regions are heavily flooded. The District Headquarters Hospital in Dadu has been affected.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the heavy rains have also led to fatalities due to roof collapses and lightning strikes.
In Balochistan, the district of Qilla Saifullah has faced severe flooding due to the overflow of the Zawar River. Concerns are growing about potential breaches in streams near Mughalkot. The province has been grappling with continuous rain for the past four days, leading to a rising death toll of 12 and injuring 32 others, according to the provincial disaster management authority.
Over 263 houses have been damaged, with 91 completely destroyed. Major rivers such as Nari, Bolan, Lehri, and Mula are experiencing high flooding levels, impacting traffic and causing significant infrastructure damage, including the collapse of four protective dams in Sibi.
Major rivers, including Nari, Bolan, Lehri, and Mula, are experiencing high levels of flooding. The surrounding areas of these rivers, including Ziarat, Harnai, Zhob, Sanjawi, Loralai, Qila Saifullah, Muslim Bagh, and Khanuzai, have been experiencing relentless heavy rains for the past three days.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a glacier burst in Upper Chitral has compounded the crisis. The burst caused high-level flooding in the Boni stream, washing away a bridge and submerging cultivated crops. Homes have been damaged, and residents have fled to safety.
READ ALSO: Clashes Erupt in Bangladesh As Protesters Demand PM Hasina’s Resignation
Emergency measures have been declared, with tents set up at the Gahilay Ground to shelter the displaced. The Frontier Corps North is engaged in rescue operations, and all relevant agencies are on high alert as further rains are forecasted.
The Chief Minister has directed the immediate relocation of the affected population to safe locations and the cancellation of leave for the relevant staff.
Heavy rains and floods have also disconnected the Yarkhun Valley of Chitral from Mastuj, while Arson and Kalash have also suffered damages, with crops, shops, and several buildings swept away by the flood waters.
In the Kashmir region, continuous monsoon rains have led to rising water levels in the Neelum River. Roads have been affected by landslides, with the Muzaffarabad Road closed at Dolai due to landslides.
