Lahore – Monsoon rains in the country have severely disrupted normal life in many places, including Islamabad. At least 37 people have died and many are injured in various floods, landslides and house collapses resulting from the heaviest rains so far. Some of the most affected regions are Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 20 persons are said to have died in rain-related accidents, while 17 persons were killed in Punjab. Rescue and relief operations are ongoing in the impacted districts, and there is continuous monitoring of sensitive areas, officials say.
Two people swept up in a flash flood in the Tuchi River in North Waziristan died. In South Waziristan, 12 people, including two young children, were killed as their house collapsed. Agricultural ground losses, loss of livestock and infrastructure occurred in several rural areas.
Civilian life came to a standstill in Gujranwala, Sialkot, Lahore, Narowal, Gujrat and other parts of Punjab due to intermittent spells of heavy rains. In Gujranwala, 245 mm of rainfall has been recorded that has impacted several low-lying areas and has damaged several houses and roads.
The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a warning of moderate flood conditions at headworks Marala and Khanki on the Chenab river and low flood at Qadirabad on the river. The authorities reported that the water inflow into the river was continuously increasing, but the situation was under control and necessary precautions were already taken by the respective authorities.
Authorities have, meanwhile, requested the public to gather information from “legitimate sources” after trying to discourage people from releasing information via social media about a very big flood relay on the Chenab River.
The communication roads, Irrigation system, agricultural lands and residential properties have been affected as a result of cloudbursts in the Astore district of GBASTO, which have caused floods and landslides. Many passengers and tourists have been stranded due to the closure of Astore Valley Road, and power and water supply have also been affected in many areas.
The escalating rate of glacier melting could further cause the rising water level in rivers and streams in the northern sections of the state, which could be a risk for bridges and roads, disaster management officials have said.
The present monsoon system is expected to persist during the next few days, the Meteorological Department said. The agencies have advised residents, especially in hilly and riverine areas, to be cautious and not move unnecessarily while observing instructions given by the local authorities in any disaster situation.