Climate Change Minister Senator Sherry Rehman issued a warning on Sunday, stating that Pakistan should expect heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms within the next 24 to 48 hours. She urged the public to exercise caution.
Sherry emphasized that urban flooding alerts had been issued for cities and municipal areas due to the risk of landslides.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has provided information on the recent casualties and damages caused by the rain across the country.
According to the data shared by the authority, over the past two weeks, 76 individuals lost their lives and 133 sustained injuries as a result of the torrential downpour.
The highest number of casualties were reported in Punjab province, with 48 fatalities. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa witnessed the deaths of 20 individuals, and Balochistan reported five casualties. Punjab also recorded 86 injuries, while K-P reported 37.
Among those who lost their lives, 31 were children, 30 were men, and 15 were women. The rainstorms also left 46 children, 49 men, and 38 women injured in various incidents.
Furthermore, the heavy rainfall caused damage to 76 houses and resulted in the loss of over 44 cattle. The NDMA additionally stated that Punjab suffered damage to 32 houses, while K-P experienced damage to 46 residences.
In a separate alert, the NDMA issued an advisory to the local administration and the public residing along the Ravi River, following India’s release of approximately 185,000 cusecs of water from Ujh Barrage.
According to the flood update issued by the NDMA, India has released approximately 185,000 cusecs of water from Ujh Barrage (River Ravi), as reported by the Permanent Commission on Indus Water (PCIW).
Based on previous records, India had released 173,000 cusecs of water last year, of which around 60,000 cusecs reached Jassar, causing a low flood level at that point on the River Ravi.
Therefore, according to the PCIW, it is anticipated that around 65,000 cusecs of water will reach within the next 20-24 hours. The NDMA stated, “Likely Impact: As per flood limits of River Ravi at Jassar, LOW FLOOD in the flood plain areas is expected.”
In line with the NDMA’s guidelines, the local administration is diligently monitoring the situation until July 20th, and the public is advised to stay informed and adhere to the instructions provided by the relevant authorities.
The South Asian region heavily relies on the summer monsoon, which brings 70-80% of its annual rainfall between June and September each year. This rainfall is crucial for the livelihoods of millions of farmers and food security for approximately two billion people in the region. However, it also brings the risk of landslides and floods.
Last summer, unprecedented monsoon rains resulted in one-third of the country being submerged, causing damage to two million homes and claiming the lives of more than 1,700 people.
Scientists have noted that climate change is causing seasonal rains to become more intense and unpredictable.
