KEY POINTS
- Rain-related incidents in KP killed 26 people since March 25.
- Balochistan reported seven deaths due to lightning, drowning, and collapses.
- Fresh western disturbance to hit Pakistan from April 5 onward.
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast a fresh spell of widespread rain, windstorms and thunderstorms — accompanied by isolated heavy falls and hailstorms — across large parts of the country from April 5 to April 9, warning of possible flash floods, landslides and urban flooding in vulnerable areas.
Rain-related incidents across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have killed 26 people, including 18 children, and injured 77 others since March 25, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has said.
According to the Met Office, a western disturbance is expected to enter Balochistan on the evening of April 5 and persist in upper regions till April 9, triggering rain and stormy weather in multiple provinces.
Fresh weather system
In Balochistan, rain-windstorms and thunderstorms are likely in districts including Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Khuzdar and Zhob from April 5 night to April 7 morning, while coastal areas such as Gwadar, Pasni and Ormara may receive rainfall on April 6.
As many as seven people were killed due to lightning strikes, roof collapses, and drowning.
Infrastructure damage includes an embankment breach in Kachhi destroying over 100 houses, while flash floods disrupted Harnai-Quetta and Quetta-Sanjawi highways.
Over 50 livestock deaths and inundation of approximately 400 acres of farmland have also been reported. Most affected districts include Harnai, Kech, Loralai, Kachhi and Chaman.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, widespread rain-thunderstorms with snowfall over mountains are expected from April 6 to April 9 in areas including Chitral, Swat, Dir, Abbottabad, Peshawar and adjoining districts. Heavy falls and hailstorms are also likely at scattered places on April 7 and 8.
The casualties were reported after roofs and walls of houses collapsed during heavy rainfall in different parts of the province.
Those who died include 18 children, three men and five women, while the injured comprise 33 men, nine women and 35 children.
The PDMA said that 102 houses have been damaged so far, with 82 partially affected and 20 completely destroyed.
Incidents were reported from multiple districts, including Bannu, Abbottabad, Kohat, Peshawar, Nowshera, Bajaur, Lakki Marwat, Kurram, Hangu, Shangla, Buner, Malakand, Upper Dir, Battagram, North Waziristan and Tank.
Flood risks intensify
In Punjab and Islamabad, widespread rain-windstorms and thunderstorms are forecast from April 6 (evening/night) to April 9 in upper and central districts, including Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala and Sialkot.
Southern districts such as Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan are likely to receive rain on April 6 and 7. Heavy rainfall and hailstorms are expected in Islamabad, the Potohar region and upper districts on April 7 and 8.
In Sindh, scattered rain-thunderstorms are expected in upper districts including Sukkur, Larkana and Jacobabad, while light to moderate rainfall is likely in Karachi, Hyderabad and surrounding areas on April 6.
In Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, moderate to heavy rain with snowfall over mountains is expected from April 5 night to April 9, with widespread thunderstorms and occasional heavy falls likely in Kashmir from April 6 to April 9.
The PMD has warned that landslides may occur in vulnerable hilly areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during the period.
Flash flooding is expected in parts of northeast Balochistan and Kashmir on April 6, and in local streams and nullahs of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from April 7 to 8.
The Karakoram Highway has also faced disruptions due to landslides in recent days.
Urban flooding is also likely in major cities including Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujrat, Gujranwala and Sialkot during April 7 and 8.
Damage and disruption
The department cautioned that windstorms, hailstorms and lightning could damage weak structures such as electric poles, billboards and solar panels, while standing crops in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh may also be affected.
Tourists and travellers have been advised to avoid unnecessary movement and remain cautious during the forecast period, while farmers have been urged to take preventive measures to protect crops. Daytime temperatures are expected to drop during the spell.
Authorities have been directed to remain vigilant and take necessary steps to prevent any untoward situation.
