ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Saturday predicted more downpours as the death toll from rain-related incidents rose to 135 in the South Asian country.
Monsoon downpours have battered Pakistan, particularly the country’s impoverished southwest, where intense floods have killed dozens of people and left hundreds homeless over the last few weeks.
The downpours, which began in mid-June, have killed at least 57 people in Balochistan, 24 in Sindh, 21 in Punjab, 18 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 10 in Gilgit-Baltistan, four in Azad Kashmir and one in Islamabad, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). At least 154 people were wounded in different incidents, 312 houses destroyed completely and another 718 damaged partially.
While relief activities have been ongoing in affected areas, the Met Office has predicted more rains in the country, particularly the southern Sindh and southwestern Balochistan provinces.
“Scattered thunderstorm/rain of moderate intensity with isolated heavy falls is expected over South & Southeast Sindh and Coastal Balochistan,” the PMD said in a statement.
“Scattered thunderstorm/rain of moderate intensity is also expected over the upper catchments of all the Major Rivers, Islamabad along with Kohat, Bannu, DI Khan, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and DG Khan Divisions.”
Isolated thunderstorms and rain were also expected over rest of the country until July 12.
Heavy rains have lashed the country in recent days, leaving large swathes of Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, inundated with water. Eight dams had burst due to downpours in Balochistan.
The Met Office on July 7 said that heavy rains might generate urban floods in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Lahore, Gujranwala and Sialkot as well. It advised travelers and tourists to remain 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 swathes of crops destroyed as one fifth of the country was inundated.
