At least 19 people were killed, 11 injured, and over 3,000 were affected as the ongoing monsoon rains, which began on July 1, continued to wreak havoc across various parts of Balochistan on Monday, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
Monsoon rains across the region from June to September offer respite from the summer heat and are crucial to replenishing water supplies and sustaining agriculture, but also lead to weather-related disasters. Experts say climate change is increasing their frequency and severity.
Data from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) shows that from July 1 to August 17, 195 people have been killed and 362 injured across the country due to rain-related incidents, while 2,293 houses have been damaged.
PDMA data for today showed that from July 1 till now, 19 people died, 11 were injured, 3,031 were affected and 433 houses were fully or partially destroyed.
PDMA official Yunus Mengal told Dawn.com that 16 districts of Balochistan were affected by the recent spell of rain while relief was being provided.
“Balochistan has witnessed two dangerous spells of monsoon since July 1,” Mengal said.
Balochistan’s provincial government has imposed an emergency in many union councils of the districts of Kalat, Ziarat, Awaran, Kachhi, Loralai, Sohbatpur and Lasbela, declaring them calamity-hit.
The highest rainfall was recorded in Kalat with over 48 millimetres, followed by Usta Muhammad with 34mm, and Sibbi with 21mm. Quetta and Khuzdar recorded 10mm of rain each, while Zhob and Chaman recorded 9mm of rain.
Sohbatpur’s Deputy Commissioner Farida Tareen said that a river in Judair overflowed due to the rain, inundating the area and destroying rice fields.
Meanwhile, Balochistan’s National Highway Authority General Manager Agha Inayatullah clarified that all the national highways in north Balochistan were open for all kinds of traffic, with the authority and contractors “working round the clock to rectify damages” of the flood water and keep the roads open.
In the summer of 2022, Pakistan experienced one of the most devastating floods in the country due to torrential rains, killing 1,700 people, affecting 33 million individuals, and destroying houses and swathes of agricultural land, according to governmental figures.
Sindh and Balochistan were the most heavily impacted provinces. In Balochistan alone, 336 people lost their lives, 426,897 homes were damaged or destroyed, and 1,230 square kilometers (304,000 acres) of crops were lost. Additionally, approximately half a million livestock were killed.
‘Deeply saddened by loss of lives’: Sherry
PPP Vice President and former climate change minister Sherry Rehman expressed regret over the deaths from rain-related incidents, saying it was a “pity that Pakistan is once again in the grip of the effects of climate change”.
“Abnormal monsoon rains have wreaked havoc once again,” she said.
“This monsoon spell is likely to continue till August 25, so all concerned institutions need to be alert to avoid further losses.”
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