Devastation Strikes Pakistan: Monsoon Rains Claim Hundreds of Lives
ISLAMABAD — In a tragic turn of events, flash floods and landslides unleashed by relentless monsoon rains have left a trail of destruction across Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, with the death toll reaching a staggering 307, as reported by authorities on Saturday. Rescue operations are in full swing in the disaster-stricken mountainous regions.
The brunt of the devastation was felt in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwestern Pakistan, where the unforgiving combination of steep terrain and ceaseless downpours led to widespread havoc.
A total of 74 homes bore the brunt of the calamity, with a military helicopter carrying emergency responders crashing en route to Bajaur due to severe weather conditions, resulting in the tragic loss of all five crew members on board.
Further north, in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, five lives were claimed by the disaster, with an additional nine fatalities reported in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Despite ongoing rescue efforts, the national meteorological department has issued a somber warning, forecasting continued heavy rainfall in the affected areas until August 21.
Describing the harrowing ordeal, Buner resident Azizullah expressed, “It felt like doomsday. The ground was trembling due to the force of the water. It felt like death was staring me in the face.”
In Bajaur, a heart-wrenching scene unfolded as mourners gathered for funeral prayers near a mud-covered hillside, while rescue teams utilized heavy machinery to comb through debris in search of buried victims.
In a show of solidarity, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province observed a day of mourning to honor the lives lost in the disaster.
Meanwhile, tragedy struck in Indian-administered Kashmir, where a remote Himalayan village bore the brunt of a flash flood, claiming at least 60 lives and leaving numerous individuals unaccounted for, as per authorities.
The South Asian monsoon season, spanning from June to September, typically accounts for 75% of the region’s annual rainfall. However, this year’s torrential rains have proven exceptionally deadly, with the Punjab region witnessing a 73% increase in rainfall compared to the same period last year, resulting in more flood-related fatalities than the entire previous monsoon season.
Scientists attribute the surge in extreme weather events in South Asia to climate change. — BBC
