Drizzle was reported in north Karachi as the monsoon season kicked in by Friday. The Met Office predicted thundershowers for upper parts of Pakistan as well.

“Partly cloudy weather with rain-wind/thundershowers is expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Islamabad, Potohar region, Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir,” said the Pakistan Meteorological Department said in its forecast for Friday (today). “Rain and thundershowers with gusty/dust raising winds in upper Sindh and northeast Balochistan.”

The heatwave ended by Thursday when many parts received rain. Eleven deaths were, however, reported in Punjab. The Gilgit to Chitral road was closed because of river erosion in Hoper village after a glacial melt.

Pakistan broke the two-month record heatwave streak, with the first spell of the rain on June 11. Many cases of cholera, fever, and diarrhoea were reported in Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan in the hot sweltering weather. People’s misery was doubled when they had born to the heat amid hours-long load shedding.

Six of family dies in Sarai Alamgir

Four women plunged to their deaths into the Jhelum river on Thursday when their vehicle lost control.

The family of six, including a child, was headed from their village, Khohar, to Jhelum when the accident took place. Rescue workers and police had to pull the bodies and vehicle from the water at Sarai Alamgir.

Rain was reported in Lahore and Faisalabad. Apart from breaking the heatwave spell, the low-lying areas in Nankana Sahib were flooded. Many shops and houses were burned after a fire broke out in a winding town in Haveli Lakha. The Sharaqpur town of Sheikhupura district was out of electricity after the rain.

Five died in Lahore

Three children and a couple were crushed to death after the wall of their house collapsed due to rain near the bank stop area of Lahore.

One person was shifted to the Ganga Ram Hospital after being injured.

The change of weather was a relief for the people in twin cities as the federal capital recorded 45°C on Wednesday.

Gilgit-Chitral road closed for traffic

The Gilgit-Chitral inter-provincial highway was closed for traffic because of the river erosion in Hoper village, which is 10km away from the Ghizer headquarter, Gahkuch. Tourists were stranded on the track as the National Highway Authority machinery so far has not reached the site.

With the increase in the intensity of heat, the flow of water in the Ghizer river has increased as the process of melting glaciers and ice in the scenic area began.

Sources said the federal government had handed over the Gilgit-Chitral road to the NHA two years ago, however, lack of maintenance has made it completely useless.

Karachi receives shower

Stress environment city, Karachi also hosted rain. Korangi crossing, Qayumabad, Shara-e-Faisal, DHA, and sea view received rainfall. “Heavy rains are expected in Karachi from June 25,” the Met Office said.

Impacts

• Heatwave conditions are likely to subside
• Water availability may improve for crops, vegetables and orchards
• Wind/dust-thunderstorm may cause damages to lose structures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
• Islamabad/Punjab, Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir during the forecast period
• Heavy rainfall may trigger landslides in Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and upper parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and may generate flash flooding in eastern parts of Balochistan (Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Jhal Magsi, Harnai, Sibbi and Bolan)