ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has said more rains are expected during Eid Al-dha, which starts on Sunday, with authorities warning of urban and flash flooding.
According to official figures 97 people have died since June 14 and over 100 injured as monsoon rains wreaked havoc in the country, with almost half the deaths taking place in the impoverished southwestern province of Balochistan.
The Pakistan Meteorological office had first predicted heavy rainfall and thunderstorms from June 30 to July 5 and also issued a weather warning for urban floods in some regions.
However, on Thursday, the met office said more rains were expected this week.
“Monsoon currents are continuously penetrating countrywide and are likely to strengthen from during Eid Holidays ie 9th and 10th July. Therefore, Rain-wind/thundershower/ heavy falls are expected in various parts of country,” NDMA said in a statement, advising rescue departments to make personnel, staff and equipment available to cope with any rain and flood-related incident.
“Heavy falls may generate urban flooding in Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Lahore, Gujranwala and Sialkot on 09th & 10th July,” the Pakistan Meteorological Department said on its website. “Travelers and tourists are advised to remain extra cautious during the forecast period.”
In 2010, the worst floods in memory affected 20 million people in Pakistan, with damage to infrastructure running into billions of dollars and huge swaths of crops destroyed as one fifth of the country was inundated.
Earlier this week Climate Minister Sherry Rehman said the recent rains in Pakistan were 87 percent heavier than the average downpour.
She linked the new pattern to the changes in climate, saying Pakistan should be ready to face more flooding because the country’s glaciers were melting at a faster pace, wjich was causing flash floods that had damaged infrastructure.