At least 28 people were killed in various parts of Pakistan due to the rain-related incidents stemming from the current monsoon spell, with authorities urging caution as Met Department forecasts more rains in the next few days.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), at least 24 people were killed and 17 others injured in Khyber-Pakthunkhwa over the past three days. It said administration officials, in concert with rescue teams, were undertaking relief activities in the affected areas, which have seen houses collapse; bridges washed away; and roads wiped out.
The current monsoon spell commenced earlier this week, and is forecast to continue through most of next week. The PDMA said that since July 29, 73 houses were completely destroyed, and 77 partially damaged due to rains in Kohat, Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan Khan, Hazara and Malakand divisions. The PDMA warned the rains would likely continue until Aug. 6 in most districts of the province. It said heavy showers, with thunderstorms and lightning, were expected in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Bajaur, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Charsadda, Hangu, Kurram, Waziristan, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan.
Punjab
Meanwhile, in Punjab capital Lahore, which government officials maintain received record-breaking rainfall on Thursday, authorities reported at least four people had been killed and seven others injured due to various rain-related incidents, including electrocution and roof collapse.
Lahore, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), received roughly 360 millimeters of rain, flooding hospitals, inundating roads and triggering electricity outages. It claimed the rain had broken a July 1980 record of 332 millimeters received three hours.
Among the deaths, per local media, two people were electrocuted; another drowned in rainwater; and a fourth died after the roof of their house collapsed. The roof collapse, per reports, also injured five people, while two others were injured in a separate roof collapse.
“This was record-breaking rainfall,” PMD Deputy Director Farooq Dar told the AFP news agency.