ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Sunday warned of fresh rains and storms next week, following the killing of 17 people in rain-related incidents across the country since late June.
Pakistan’s annual monsoon season, which typically runs from June to September, regularly triggers flash floods, landslides and house collapses, particularly in the country’s mountainous north and low-lying river plains.
At least 17 people have so far been killed and more than 40 others sustained injuries in rains, roof and wall collapses, lightning strikes and similar incidents since June 26, according to the NDMA.
The authority said on Sunday an active weather system is expected to bring isolated rain, wind- or thunderstorms to Azad Kashmir, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Pothohar and northeastern Punjab regions from Monday.
“Scattered rain-wind/thunderstorms with isolated heavy falls are expected over the upper catchments of the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej river systems, including Islamabad, Potohar, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, North Punjab and North Balochistan,” the NDMA said.
“The most widespread rainfall is expected on 07 July.”
The system is expected to last until July 10.
“Rainfall over the upper catchments is expected to slightly increase inflows into Tarbela and Mangla reservoirs, while flows in the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers are likely to increase slightly during 07–10 July,” the authority said.
“No significant river flooding is indicated at present. However, localized increases in hill torrents and smaller streams are expected.”
Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change despite contributing less than one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Record floods in 2022 killed more than 1,700 people, affected 33 million people and caused more than $30 billion in damage and economic losses, according to the government and the World Bank figures.
Last year, the country experienced riverine floods after India released excess water into three rivers, devastating farmlands in Pakistan’s breadbasket, Punjab province, and affecting large swathes of the wheat crop.
