PESHAWAR: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Wednesday warned of potential landslides, flashfloods and heavy rainfall in Pakistan’s northwest during the day, advising tourists to remain “extra cautious” as 47 people have been killed in rain-related incidents in the region since Mar 25.
Pakistan has experienced extreme weather patterns in recent years, including floods, droughts and heatwaves, with experts describing it as one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. At least 1,037 people died during last year’s monsoon season, according to official statistics.
The PDMA said rainfall and thunderstorms were expected in Chitral, Upper and Lower Dir, Swat, Buner, Malakand, Shangla, Upper and Lower Kohistan, Kolai-Palas, Torghar, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Bajaur, Mohmand, Swabi,
Mardan, Nowshera, Khyber and Kurram districts.
“Landslides may occur in vulnerable areas of the province,” it said. “Due to heavy rains flashfloods are expected in local streams and nullahs of the province.”
The advisory warned that windstorms or hailstorms could damage electric poles, billboards and solar panels, asking tourists to avoid unnecessary travel.
The nationwide death toll in torrential rains since mid-March has climbed to 85, with at least 27 people killed in Karachi in the southern Sindh province, nine in southwestern Balochistan and two in the eastern Punjab province.
The PDMA earlier said a fresh spell of rains was expected across various districts in KP, which could last till Apr. 9.
