ISLAMABAD: More than 30 people have died in rain-related incidents across Pakistan during days of heavy downpours amid widespread disruption across the country, with thousands of schools closed, officials said Sunday.
The heavy rainfall, which started on Thursday, has triggered chaos and devastation, prompting the closure of thousands of schools, particularly in Balochistan province, where educational institutions will remain shut until Thursday due to the adverse weather conditions.
Tragically, among the casualties, 18 children were among the 26 people who lost their lives in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, succumbing to collapsed buildings amidst the heavy rainfall.
Heavy Rainfall Destruction in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Taimur Ali Khan, spokesperson for the Provincial Disaster Management Authority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said, “As a result of continuous rainfall over the past four days in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a total of 27 persons have lost their lives.”
The toll of devastation further mounted with another fatality recorded due to a landslide, while over 150 houses bore the brunt of damage in the province.
In southern Balochistan province, the grim toll continued to rise as five persons perished when buildings succumbed to the forces of nature on both Thursday and Friday, as reported by Jahanzain Khan, head of the disaster management agency.
The aftermath of the heavy rainfall manifested in disrupted transportation networks, with damaged roads, floods, and landslides severing villages from main towns in Balochistan, while major thoroughfares in Gilgit-Baltistan were rendered impassable, as local media outlets detailed.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Meteorological Department forecasts further rainfall and snowfall across the region, underscoring the urgency for heightened vigilance and preparedness.
