Over the past day, five children have died in Balochistan, and four people lost their lives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as monsoon rains continue to wreak havoc across Pakistan, officials reported on Tuesday. The ongoing showers, along with the remnants of Cyclone Asna, have caused widespread damage and increased the death toll across the country.
Since July 1, 39 people have died in rain-related incidents in Balochistan alone, according to Younus Mengal, head of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). Among the deceased are 19 children, with five fatalities occurring on Monday in separate incidents. The PDMA also reported that a new spell of rain entered Balochistan and is expected to continue affecting 22 districts until tonight. Relief and rescue operations are ongoing.
In one tragic incident in Zhob District, two brothers drowned in flash floods, while in Khuzdar District, two children died after falling into a dam. Another child drowned in a flash flood in Kech District. As a result, 11 districts in Balochistan have been declared calamity-hit.
Meanwhile, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four people lost their lives due to heavy rains over the last 24 hours. Three of the victims died in a landslide in Upper Kohistan, and a minor was struck by lightning in Malakand District. The Karakoram Highway, blocked due to heavy downpours, was reopened for traffic on Tuesday after debris from a landslide was cleared.
Since July 1, a total of 96 people have died, and 133 have been injured in rain-related incidents across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The province has also seen significant damage to infrastructure, with 963 houses reported damaged by flash floods and heavy rains.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued warnings of further monsoon showers across various regions, including Punjab and Sindh. While Lahore and Gujranwala experienced heavy rainfall, Sindh residents, including those in Karachi, are bracing for more rain expected to continue until tomorrow.
Karachi, which faced heavy rains last week, is particularly vulnerable, with damaged roads leading to concerns from opposition lawmakers in the Sindh Assembly. The PMD has forecast isolated thunderstorms and rain in several districts of Sindh, including Karachi, where temperatures are expected to range between 32-34°C during the day and drop to 25°C at night.
