Emergency declared in Quetta, authorities predict more rain
Meteorological Department issues warnings of heavy rain and hail in some areas, with a risk of flooding in rivers and low-lying areas, as well as landslides in mountainous regions
Lightning and heavy rain have killed at least 36 people, mostly farmers, across Pakistan in the past three days, officials said on Monday, as authorities in the country’s southwest declared a state of emergency.
Most of the deaths occurred when lightning struck farmers harvesting wheat and rain caused houses to collapse in eastern Punjab province, said Arfan Kathia, a spokesman for the provincial disaster management authority.
He said more rain was expected this week. Rain also lashed the capital, Islamabad, and killed seven people in southwestern Balochistan province over the weekend, and eight others died in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan.
Rainwaters flooded streets in the northwestern city of Peshawar and in Queta, the capital of Balochistan, where authorities declared a state of emergency.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said in televised remarks that he had ordered authorities to provide relief aid in regions hit by rain.
Pakistan’s water reservoirs would improve because of the rain, he said, while expressing concern over the deaths and damage.
The Meteorological Department has issued warnings of heavy rain and hail in some areas, with a risk of flooding in rivers and low-lying areas, as well as landslides in mountainous regions.
In Lahore, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has forecasted rain in the coming week, while Karachi anticipates heavy rainfall starting from April 18 due to the second wave of westerly winds entering the city on April 17.
Queta is preparing for a new rain system entering the region, with heavy rain predicted for North Balochistan and coastal areas on April 17 and 18. The new system will cause rainfall for three days, as per the Met Department.
In Charsadda, the water level in rivers has risen due to the rain in the upper areas.
The rising water levels in the Swat River have prompted residents to remain vigilant, and authorities have advised those living near rivers to avoid the edges.
There is also a low-level flood reported in the Khayali area of Swat.
In Abbotabad, intermitent rain is expected to continue for three days, while in Dera Ismail Khan, storm drains have flooded due to heavy rainfall, and snowfall has returned to the mountain ranges of Mount Sulaiman.
The city of Batakhela in Malakand is experiencing flooding in rivers and canals, with the Swat River’s water level rising significantly.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, with the Irrigation Department and local administrations taking precautionary measures to minimize damage and ensure the safety of residents.
Meanwhile, heavy flooding from seasonal rain in Afghanistan killed 33 people and injured 27 others in three days, according to Abdullah Janan Saiq, the Taliban’s spokesman for the State Ministry for Natural Disaster Management.
More than 600 houses were either damaged or destroyed while around 200 livestock died.
The flooding also damaged large areas of agricultural land and more than 85 kilometres of roads, he said.
He said authorities in Afghanistan had provided aid to nearly 23,000 families, and that flash floods were reported in 20 out of the country’s 34 provinces.
Rafay Alam, a Pakistani environmental expert, said that such heavy April rainfall is unusual.
“Two years ago, Pakistan witnessed a heat wave in March and April and now we are witnessing rain and it is all of because of climate change, which had caused heavy flooding in 2022,” he said.
In 2022, downpours had swelled rivers and at one point inundated one-third of Pakistan, killing 1,739 people. The floods also caused $30 billion in damage.
Earlier, it was reported that the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are due to open on Tuesday, with two clear objectives: help countries combat climate change, and assist the most indebted nations.