Devastating Rains Claim 39 Lives in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD — The aftermath of days of relentless downpours in Pakistan’s southwest has left a trail of destruction, claiming the lives of at least 39 individuals.
Among the casualties were farmers who tragically met their end while harvesting wheat, struck by bolts of lightning amidst the storm, as confirmed by authorities.
The deluge has transformed vast stretches of farmland into waterlogged landscapes, with images circulating online showcasing the extent of the devastation. The ensuing flash floods have wreaked havoc on power supplies and transportation networks, adding to the chaos.
Pakistan’s encounter with extreme weather events has been on the rise, a grim consequence of the looming specter of climate change. The year 2022 witnessed a catastrophic inundation that submerged one-third of the country, resulting in over 1,700 fatalities and leaving countless others wounded. Millions were displaced and endured a prolonged scarcity of clean drinking water in the aftermath.
As history repeats itself, regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which bore the brunt of the 2022 flooding, find themselves in the crosshairs of the recent storms once again.
With forecasts predicting more rainfall in the imminent future, the National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan has sounded the alarm on the looming threats of landslides and flash floods.
The province of Punjab, Pakistan’s most densely populated region, has suffered the highest death toll thus far, with 21 individuals losing their lives to lightning strikes over the weekend, according to AFP news agency.
In Balochistan, the westernmost province, at least eight individuals perished, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency. Schools in the region were directed to remain closed on Monday and Tuesday as a precautionary measure.
One of the worst-hit areas, the coastal town of Pasni in Balochistan, has been submerged under a sea of rainwater, prompting Noor Ahmed Kalmati, chairman of the town’s municipal committee, to describe it as resembling a vast lake.
Across the border in Afghanistan, heavy flooding has also wreaked havoc, claiming the lives of 33 individuals and causing extensive damage to hundreds of homes, as per Afghan authorities.
Experts have pointed to the ominous role of global warming in exacerbating the calamitous floods that ravaged Pakistan in 2022. The nation’s precarious position as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change, as highlighted in the UN’s Global Climate Risk Index, underscores the urgent need for mitigation measures. — BBC
