35 more lost to rains, floods

Torrential monsoon rains and ensuing flooding of rivers and rainwater drains continued to wreak havoc across the country, washing away houses, crops and installations besides killings dozens more.

At least 70 people have reportedly been killed in countrywide in rain-related disasters.

Reports of catastrophes and deaths poured in from across the country, as the Metrological Office forecast yet more rains for the days ahead.

Pakistan Army rescue squads have been called out in almost all affected areas to assists evacuation and relief operations and helping civil authorities drain out stagnant rainwater.

Reports of the breakout of water-borne diseases has also been reported, especially that of gastroenteritis in Sialkot and adjoining areas.

Although the scale of the havoc is evident, assessment of damage has so far not been made, but it is estimated that the losses could might well be billions.

Sindh:

The country’s financial hub, already marred by continued violence, ahs surprisingly one of the areas worst-hit by the rains and flooding, with many of the city’s area inundated by waist-high water. Evacuation is underway in many parts of the metropolis, including SaadiTown, Safoora Goth, Amoroha Society, Gulshan-e-Maimar, Bhittayi Abad, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Lyari and Malir.

Army troops remained busy helping drain out rainwater from various neighbourhoods.

At least 20 fatalities have been reported in Karachi, a majority of them from electrocution and drowning.

The flooding of streets also forced dozens of feeders of the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) to trip, cutting power to almost half of the city.

Pakistan Navy contingents also took part in rescue activities, moving people to safer places in boats.

Flooding of residential areas was also reported in Hyderabad

Balochistan:

In Balochistan, nine more people, including three women and five children, lost their lives in rain and flood incidents on Sunday.

Alarming reports were received from Jhal Magsi, where huge flood torrents are approaching from Jhalawan’s hilly region, carrying approximately more than 250,000 cusecs of water that could wreak widespread devastation in the district and surrounding areas.

Evacuation is reported on a large scale from Ghandawa tehsil of Jhal Magsi and district administration has ordered the people to leave their homes immediately.

The flood is also expected to hit Saifabad, Kot Magsi, Misri Goth and other adjoining areas causing unprecedented devastation.

The death toll due to torrential rain and subsequently flood during the past 48 hours has risen from eight to 17.

Senior PDMA official Attaullah Mengal confirmed a total of 10 casualties had occurred in rain-related incidents in Jhal Magsi, Loralai, Khuzdar and Kech, adding that over 15,000 to 20,000 people had been rendered homeless by the floods.

Torrential rains in most parts of Jhalawan in Central Balochistan were reported where all the seasonal rivers flowed in high flood, destroying property and fields.

The road link between Balochistan and Sindh has been cut off from Khuzdar-Shahdad Koth due to land sliding in Wangu region.

The flood water in the major rivers is moving towards the plains of Jhal Magsi which may further add to the misery of already marooned people of the district.

Heavy torrential rains were also reported in Kalat, Mashkhel, Sibi, Panjgur districts and some other regions disrupting the normal life and destroying standing crops.

Hill torrents from Dera Ghazi Khan and Marri-Bugti hills caused devastation in Musakhel, where several houses collapsed and road communication was cut off between Masakhail and rest of Balochistan.

There were reports of shortage of food and water as thousands of people are marooned in Jhal Magsi, Nal, Karakh, Zehri and other parts of Balochistan.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:

Extensive property and human loss has been reported from KP province, one of the worst–hit areas, and residents in several towns have been forced to abandon homes inundated by rainwater.

At least 23 deaths have so far reported in rain and flood-related incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Water level in Mangla Dam rose to the maximum level of 1,242 feet on Sunday, leading to evacuation of affected people to safer places.

Those leaving homes included residents of Mirpur, Islamgarh, Siakh, Chakswari and Dadayal.

The deputy commissioner of Peshawar, Zaheer Islam, said four people were killed in the city on Sunday.

He said meals were being provided to the affected people and machines had been installed to pump out water from houses.

Five people were confirmed dead in Tank, while 30 homes were left damaged in Ali Khel and 14 in Darakai. Four people lost their lives in Central Kurram, two in Khyber Agency, and one in Lakki Marwat.

Punjab:

Several parts of the province have been inundated standing crops worth millions of rupees washed away in by flood torrents across the province

Two people were killed in rain-related incidents, while 96,000 cusec floodwater from mountainous range of Koh-e-Suleman entered dozens of localities in Rajanpur on Sunday.

In Sialkot, over 37 villages and crops over 3,043 acres of land were affected due to heavy rains in catchment areas and overflowing of Dek and Aik nullahs in the district.

District flood control office sources said according to an initial survey, 333 persons and 374 acres of land had been affected in various areas of the district. No loss of life and property has so far been reported from any part of the district.

RaviRiver was also flowing in low flood at Lahore, endangering several gypsy settlements along the banks of the river.

The river was also in high flood at Warsak and medium flood stage at Nowshera.

Civil administration was busy evacuating the people from the surrounded areas.

The Federal Flood Commission (FFC) said the IndusRiver at Kalabagh and Chashma and the KabulRiver at Nowshera could attain medium to high flood level during the next 24 hours.

Medium to high flood situation in hill torrents of DG Khan division and eastern Balochistan was also likely to continue during the same period.

The Swat river was also running in low flood at CharsaddaRoadBridge.

Other main rivers including Jhelum, Chenab and Sutlej were flowing normally.

Scattered thunderstorm and rain with isolated heavy falls is expected over Sindh (Karachi, Mirpur Khas, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkana Divisions), eastern and coastal Balochistan, DG Khan division and Kashmir during the next 24 hours.

Scattered thunderstorm/rain may also occur over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Punjab (Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore and Bahawalpur Divisions) including upper catchments of Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers during the same period.

Metrological Department Chief Touseef Alam has said the country especially Upper Sindh and Balochistan, were likely to receive more rains during next 12 hours.

He said the current monsoon system was moving toward Balochistan from Sindh and the torrential rains were now expected in Gwadar, Jiwani, Turbat and adjoining areas.