A total of 28 deaths were reported in KP, the highest among all provinces
JAVED KHAN
PESHAWAR
At least 78 people have lost their lives and 130 others have been injured in the past 11 days as torrential monsoon rains and flash floods continue to batter various parts of the country, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported on Sunday.
The highest number of fatalities between June 27 and July 7 was recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with 28 deaths, followed by Punjab with 24, Sindh 15, Balochistan 11, and four in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the report said.
In the last 24 hours alone, six more rain-related deaths were reported,four in KP and two in Sindh, while three people sustained injuries in incidents involving flash floods, house collapses, lightning strikes, and drowning.
The NDMA said 161 houses were completely destroyed, and 91 livestock perished in rain-induced incidents. Rescue teams carried out 19 operations during this period, rescuing 233 people and distributing essential relief items among the affected families.
The National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) has warned of continued heavy rainfall and potential flooding until July 10, placing several regions,including Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, KP, AJK, and Gilgit-Baltistan, on high alert.
Low-level flooding is anticipated at Marala and Qadirabad along the Chenab River, while water levels are expected to rise significantly in the Indus, Chenab, Swat, Panjkora, Chitral, and Hunza rivers. Flash flooding is particularly likely in northeastern Punjab due to runoff from drains originating in the Pir Panjal range.
The Jhelum River and its tributaries in AJK, and the Hunza River system in Gilgit-Baltistan, have also been flagged as high-risk areas. In southern Balochistan, flood threats loom due to runoff from the Kirthar mountain range, with Awaran, Khuzdar, Jhal Magsi, Qila Saifullah, and Musa Khel districts identified as vulnerable.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of a heightened risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in the glaciated regions of KP due to a significant rise in temperatures and an approaching weather system over northern Pakistan.
In response, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority KP has issued an alert for residents of Chitral, Dir, Swat, and Kohistan, advising them to remain vigilant. Rising temperatures were accelerating the melting of snow and glaciers, which could trigger GLOFs and flash floods in vulnerable valleys of the province.
The NDMA has urged citizens to remain alert, avoid unnecessary travel to flood-prone areas, and follow advisories issued by local authorities and the Met Office.
