The late monsoon spell that has been lashing the country for the last several days continued to rain down misery on hapless citizens on Sunday, killing at least 36 people across the country as authorities warned of continued showers and possible flooding in some areas.
Sunday’s deaths came in incidents like electrocution, roofs caving in and people washed away by flooed torrents.
According to reports, streams and nullahs in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur districts were flowing in high flood. Streets of major cities, including Multan, Hyderabad and Lahore were inundated by rainwater, bringing suffering to the residents.
Heavy rains also lashed the country’s coastal areas as well as other parts of Sindh, including Sukkur, Hyderabad, Larkana, Khairpur, Tharparker, Diplo, Badin and Jacobabad. In Balochistan, heavy rainfall in Zhob, Kalat, Sibi and Nasirabad inundated several low lying areas.
In Hyderabad, rainwater accumulated up to two to three feet in several areas, including Latifabad, Pathan Colony, Qazi Abdul Qayyum Road, Hali Road, Makki Shah, Phelaili, Qasimabad, and cantonment. At least 15 power feeders also tripped due to rainfall, while two women among five people reportedly died due to electric current.
Due to heavy rain, the water level in Hub dam, which supplies drinking water to Karachi, rose by eight feet on Saturday night. The present water level was reported at 318 feet against the storage capacity of 340 feet. WAPDA officials said that the water level was rising steadily.
In Punjab there were reports of heavy to light rain. Southern Punjab in particular was hit hard by rains. Heavy showers were reported from Multan, Bahawalpur, DG Khan, Rajanpur, Vehari, Chichawatni, TT Singh, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Kamaliya, Khanpur, Lahore, Lodhran, Chiniot, Chakwal, Rawalpindi, Attock and Jhelum.
The level of rainfall recorded by the Meteorological Department in various districts was: Khanpur 173 mm followed by Rahimyar Khan 102, Okara 95, Sahiwal 94, Bahawalnagar 83, Multan 77, Shorkot 70, Chorr 68, Islamabad 66, Bahawalpur 64, Thatta 58, TT Singh 55, Hyderabad 52, Larkana 47, DG Khan 35, Faisalabad 34, Lahore 27 and Murree, Nawabshah, Mohenjodaro and Sargodha 25 mm.
Four persons were killed in Multan due to roof collapse and electrocution, two each in Kamalia, Mian Channu and Lahore, one each in Lodhran and Faisalabad and TT Singh. Hill torrents in DG Khan and Rananpur damaged several villages and crops over vast areas. Rain has also been reported in Gilgit-Baltistan, and upper parts of the KPK.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kabul River was in low flood at Nowshera where its water discharge was 646,500 cusecs. Water level in River Khayali on Charsadda Road was also seen surging.
The Met office has forecast more rain in most parts of the country, including Karachi, during the next 24 hours. The met office said a well marked low pressure had entered eastern Sindh and its adjoining areas. Under the influence of this weather system, strong monsoon currents would continue to penetrate in central and southern parts of Pakistan, particularly in Sindh. Saturday’s westerly wave over western parts of Pakistan has moved northeast and now lies over northern parts of the country.
Widespread rain/thundershower with scattered heavy falls is expected in southern Punjab, while scattered rain/thundershowers with isolated heavy falls is expected over upper Punjab/Islamabad during the next 24 hours. Heavy rains would cause urban and flash floods in the vulnerable areas of DG Khan, Multan and Bahawalpur divisions during the period.
Scattered rain/thundershower with isolated heavy falls is expected in KP during next 24 hours.
Widespread rain/thundershower with isolated heavy fall is expected in Sukkar & Larkana divisions, while scattered rain/thundershower likely in other parts of Sindh during next 24 hours.
In Balochistan, widespread rain/thundershower with scattered heavy falls is expected in eastern parts of Balochistan during next 24 hours. Heavy rains would cause flash floods in Quetta, Zhob, Sibi, Kalat and Nasirabad divisions during the period.
Scattered rain/thundershower is expected in Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan during the next 24 hours. The Met office said the rains would gradually die down after 24 hours.
