Pre-monsoon rains ‘have killed 43’ in the country

NDMA report says highest number of casualties reported from Balochistan

ISLAMABAD: The current monsoon spell has left 43 people dead and 61 injured across the country, according to the latest report issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

The heavy downpour also damaged some 60 houses, says the preliminary consolidated statistics gathered by the NDMA with the help of its provincial wings.



The Meteorological Department on Tuesday issued fresh alerts to all authorities concerned, asking them to keep on their toes as heavy isolated showers are expected in major parts of the country during the next 48 hours which may trigger landsliding and urban flooding.

According to the Met Office, more rain and thundershowers with isolated heavy falls is expected at scattered places of Islamabad, Upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (Malakand, Hazara, Mardan, Peshawar, Kohat divisions), Fata, Upper Punjab (Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Lahore divisions), Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during the next 48 hours. Rain and thundershowers also expected at a few places of Sahiwal and Bahawalpur divisions.

The NDMA report, meanwhile, revealed that the highest number of causalities was reported from Balochistan where 15 people lost their lives in rain-related incidents, followed by Punjab with 11 people; Sindh with six, including three children; AJK five; Fata four and in K-P two.



In Punjab, 31 people sustained injuries, followed by 17 in Sindh, nine in AJK and four in Fata, according to the NDMA. “It is unfortunate that the majority of fatalities have been reported during the pre-monsoon season, though the actual monsoon season has started only a week ago,” said a senior NDMA official while talking to The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity.

He said majority of the deaths were caused by electrocution, followed by urban flooding.

While sharing the situation of water reservoirs, the official said water level in three major dams is low. “Last year, at this time the level of water in the three main dams was far better,” he said.

The NDMA said the recent rains had highlighted problems in major cities; and if they were not addressed, the flood situation in urban centres as well as along water courses could be aggravated. It has also advised people living along rivers and nullahs to evacuate, besides asking passers-by to avoid unnecessary river crossing.

According to the NDMA, flash flood has washed away parts of the Musakhel-Kingri Road (N-70) and the Lori Tang Bridge in Kot Khan Mohammad.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2017.