ISLAMABAD: At least 50 individuals, including eight children, have tragically lost their lives in floods and landslides triggered by monsoon rains that have been battering Pakistan since last month, as reported by officials on Friday.
The summer monsoon season, which occurs between June and September, provides South Asia with 70-80 percent of its annual rainfall, supporting the livelihoods of millions of farmers and ensuring food security for a region inhabited by approximately two billion people. However, the monsoon also brings with it the risks of landslides and floods.
According to a national disaster management official who spoke to AFP, “Fifty deaths have been reported in different rain-related incidents all over Pakistan since the start of the monsoon on June 25.” The official also noted that during this period, 87 people sustained injuries.
اسلام آباد: فلڈ مینجمنٹ اجلاس
موجودہ بارشوں کی صورتحال پر این ڈی ایم اے کی جانب سے چئیرمین این ڈی ایم اے لیفٹیننٹ جنرل انعام حیدر ملک کی زیر صدارت فلڈ مینجمنٹ اجلاس کا انعقاد.
اجلاس میں محکمہ موسمیات، فیڈرل فلڈ کمیشن، پی ڈی ایم اے پنجاب، ریسکیو 1122 اور دیگر محکموں نے شرکت کی. pic.twitter.com/19QEpm9y7w— NDMA PAKISTAN (@ndmapk) July 6, 2023
The majority of fatalities occurred in Punjab and were primarily attributed to electrocution and building collapses, as indicated by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in their report. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, eight children’s bodies were recovered from a landslide in the Shangla district on Thursday, with rescue teams continuing their efforts to locate other children believed to be trapped beneath the debris.
Record-breaking Rainfall in Lahore
The city of Lahore witnessed record-breaking rainfall on Wednesday, resulting in submerged roads and leaving nearly 35 percent of the city without electricity and water throughout the week. The Meteorological Department has issued warnings of further heavy rainfall across the country in the coming days and highlighted the potential for flooding in Punjab’s major river catchment areas.
In response to the situation, Punjab’s disaster management authority announced on Friday that it is actively working on relocating individuals living along waterways to safer areas. Scientists have emphasized that climate change is intensifying the severity and unpredictability of seasonal rains.
Last summer, unprecedented monsoon rains submerged one-third of Pakistan, causing damage to two million homes and claiming the lives of over 1,700 people. Early last month, storms caused the deaths of at least 27 individuals, including eight children, in the country’s northwest.
Pakistan Highly Vulnerable to Climate Change Effects
Pakistan, despite being responsible for less than 1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, remains highly vulnerable to the extreme weather events induced by global warming. Efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change and enhance disaster management capabilities are crucial for the nation’s resilience in the face of these escalating challenges.
