A series of heavy rainfalls have lashed various districts across Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan, causing widespread flooding, power outages, and tragically, claiming the lives of 21 people.
In Sindh, torrential rains have continued intermittently in various districts, including Jamshoro, Mirpurkhas, and Nowshero Feroze. In Jamshoro, the mountainous region has been particularly affected, with a woman and two others losing their lives after a roof collapsed. The heavy rainfall has inundated homes, swept away livestock, and isolated several villages from Jamshoro.
Similar heavy rains have been reported in Mirpurkhas, Nowshero Feroze, Bhat Shah, New Saeedabad, Matiari, Hala, and Mehtari, with low-lying areas submerged and major roads resembling lakes. The heavy rains have also caused numerous power outages, with several feeders tripping, leaving many areas without electricity. The continuous rainfall poses a serious threat to crops, raising concerns about potential agricultural losses.
In Dadu city and its surrounding areas, a relentless 10-hour downpour has turned the city into a sea of water. Roads have become impassable, and low-lying areas are flooded. The prolonged power outage, lasting for 10 hours, has caused immense hardship for residents. The District Headquarters Hospital has also been affected by the flooding, adding to the difficulties faced by patients.
The heavy rains have also impacted Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, with reports of roof collapses and lightning strikes leading to fatalities.
In Balochistan, the district of Qilla Saifullah has also been hit by torrential rains, causing the Zawar River to overflow. Additionally, there are fears of breaches in the torrential streams near Mughalkot.
The Kashmir region has also witnessed a continuous spell of monsoon rains, with districts such as Muzaffarabad, Neelum, Jhelum Valley, Haveli, Bagh, and Poonch experiencing a surge in water levels in the Neelum River.
The Muzaffarabad Road has been closed at the Dolai area due to a landslide, posing challenges for tourists and residents alike.
In the district headquarters of Boni in Upper Chitral, a glacier burst has caused high-level flooding in the Boni stream, washing away a connecting bridge and submerging cultivated crops.
The glacier burst has also caused damage to several homes in the area. Residents fled to safety as the floodwaters rose. Tents have been set up at the Gahilay Ground to accommodate the affected people, and an emergency has been declared in Upper Chitral.
The Chief Minister has directed the immediate relocation of the affected population to safe locations and the cancellation of leave for the relevant staff.
Heavy rains and floods have also disconnected the Yarkhun Valley of Chitral from Mastuj, while Arson and Kalash have also suffered damages, with crops, shops, and several buildings swept away by the flood waters.
The Frontier Corps North is carrying out emergency rescue operations, while officials say the public is being taken to safe locations. All agencies are on high alert as more rains are forecast for the area.
Heavy rains continue to lash various parts of Balochistan for the fourth consecutive day, leading to widespread flooding and disrupting traffic on major highways and roads connecting the province to other parts of the country.
The death toll from rain-related incidents in Balochistan has risen to 12, according to the provincial disaster management authority. A total of 12 people have lost their lives and 32 others have been injured, while 263 houses have been damaged, including 91 that have been completely destroyed.
Major rivers, including Nari, Bolan, Lehri, and Mula, are experiencing high levels of flooding. The surrounding areas of these rivers, including Ziarat, Harnai, Zhob, Sanjawi, Loralai, Qila Saifullah, Muslim Bagh, and Khanuzai, have been experiencing relentless heavy rains for the past three days.
Flooding has also occurred in several areas of the province, including Sibi, where water has entered numerous villages.
Authorities reported that four protective dams in Sibi collapsed on Friday night, resulting in the flooding of five villages in the area.
The severe flooding in the province’s rivers has affected major highways, causing traffic disruptions. Landslides have also been reported in some areas. The torrential floodwaters have damaged the newly constructed Panjra Bridge, prompting local authorities to close it to heavy traffic.
