Four dead as monsoon lashes northwest

ISLAMABAD/ QUETTA/PESHAWAR:

Three children and a woman died and more than 30 others sustained injuries in various incidents triggered by torrential monsoon rains and lightning strikes in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), rescue officials said on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, monsoon rains accompanied by windstorms and thunderstorms brought much-needed relief from the prevailing hot and humid weather in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and several upper and central parts of the country on Wednesday, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasting more rain across these regions on Thursday.

In Balochistan, intermittent monsoon rains, accompanied by strong winds, caused widespread damage in the northern and eastern districts. In Zhob, a woman and a child were killed and 10 others injured after mud houses collapsed in two separate incidents in the Nawai Abadi area during heavy rainfall.

Rescue teams pulled the injured from the debris and shifted them to nearby hospitals, while relief operations and the provision of temporary shelter for affected families continued. Roads were blocked and electricity and water supplies were disrupted in several districts as flood-like conditions developed.

In K-P, lightning struck a girls' seminary in the Wari area of Lower Dir while classes were in progress, causing the roof to collapse and injuring more than 20 students. Around 250 girls were present at the seminary at the time of the incident. The injured were taken to Wari Hospital, where they were stated to be out of danger.

In a separate incident in Bazaar Zakha Khel of Landi Kotal tehsil, Khyber district, lightning struck a house, killing two children and injuring three members of the same family. The house was also damaged, while local residents launched rescue efforts before shifting the injured to hospital.

The country had been experiencing an unprecedented spell of intense heat, consistent with the rising frequency of extreme weather events witnessed across many parts of the world that experts attribute to the impacts of climate change.

However, the current monsoon spell, forecast by the PMD for July 1-6, has brought significant relief to heat-stricken areas.

Rain-windstorms and thundershowers, with isolated heavy falls, occurred in Kashmir, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, upper Punjab, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and northeastern Balochistan.

In the federal capital, rain that started in the evening continued intermittently with gaps till night, lowering temperatures and providing respite from the heat.

The Met Office said rain-windstorms and thundershowers, accompanied by isolated heavy falls, are expected on Thursday in Kashmir, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and northeastern Balochistan, while hot and humid weather is likely to persist over other parts of the country.

It said partly cloudy weather with rain-windstorms and thundershowers, along with isolated heavy falls, is expected in Islamabad and adjoining areas during the day.

According to the PMD, heavy rainfall during Wednesday night and Thursday may trigger landslides in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir, besides causing flash flooding in local streams and nullahs. Hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan may also experience flash flooding.

The department further warned that heavy downpours could lead to urban and flash flooding in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Nowshera, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Lahore and Faisalabad during the forecast period.

It also cautioned that windstorms and lightning could damage vulnerable structures, including solar panels, electricity poles and billboards, and advised the public to take necessary precautions during thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, mainly very hot and humid weather is expected to prevail across most districts of Sindh, while Balochistan is likely to remain hot to very hot, with rain and thunderstorms expected at isolated places including Zhob, Sherani, Kohlu, Naseerabad, Harnai, Sibbi, Musakhel, Barkhan, Dera Bugti and Khuzdar.

During the last 24 hours, hot and dry weather prevailed over most parts of the country, while very hot and humid conditions persisted over the plains. However, isolated rain-windstorms and thundershowers were recorded in Kashmir, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Khuzdar, Zhob, Murree and Sialkot.

The highest rainfall during the period was recorded at Kakul (36 mm), followed by Malam Jabba (25 mm), Muzaffarabad Airport (19 mm), Balakot (17 mm), Garhi Dupatta and Kotli (12 mm each), Khuzdar (12 mm) and Zhob (8 mm).

The highest maximum temperature recorded in the country on Wednesday was 47C at Nokkundi and Dalbandin, followed by 46C in Dadu and 45C in Sibbi.