PESHAWAR/RAWALPINDI( The COW News Digital) With the country’s northern areas, predominantly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, facing wide-scale destruction and loss of life due to rains and floods, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of more intense torrential rains across the country commencing today (Sunday).
“Strong monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are continuously penetrating into the country. Low Pressure System (LPA) over the Bay of Bengal is likely to move westward from (today) and intensify this monsoon activity,” the Met Office said in a statement.
Also, a westerly wave was present over the country under the influence of these meteorological conditions, it added.
Widespread rain-wind/thundershowers (with scattered heavy falls at times very heavy) are expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Buner, Malakand, Bajaur, Mohmand, Kohat and Peshawar.
Heavy downpour is likely in Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Waziristan, Tank and Dera Ismail Khan till August 19 (Tuesday).
The forecast comes as the deaths in rain-related incidents across the country, mostly KP, GB and AJK, have surpassed the grim 300-mark with KP reporting the highest tally of 657 fatalities as per a statement issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Sunday.
GB and AJK have reported 12 and 11 fatalities so far — pushing the total death toll in northern areas to at least 337.
Giving a breakdown of the deaths in KP, the PDMA said that at least 323 people have lost their lives in rain and flash flood-related incidents across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
It added that 156 people were injured, while 336 houses were damaged in the recent spell of rains and floods.
Of the damaged houses, 230 were partially affected, and 106 were completely destroyed.
Buner was the worst-hit district, where 209 deaths have been reported so far. Fatalities and damages were also recorded in Swat, Bajaur, Torghar, Mansehra, Shangla and Battagram districts.
The PDMA said rescue and relief efforts were underway in affected areas.
Speaking during a media briefing today, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik said that that rehabilitation work was underway in areas where communication roads had been damaged.
“Relief supplies and food will be provided in the affected districts. NDMA is in constant contact with the provincial government,” Lt Gen Malik said, adding that a search for missing persons was underway.
Noting that rehabilitation work was being carried out in Buner, Bajaur and Battagram, the NDMA chief called for evacuation of people from low lying areas.
“The losses [and damage] in KP are a part of climate change. As a nation, we will fight these climate changes together.”
The NDMA chairman highlighted that early warnings played an important role in preventing losses and damage, and said that the authority’s focus would be on North Punjab, AJK and GB for the next two weeks.
During the NDMA’s media briefing, Dr Tayyab Shah, the authority’s technical expert, warned another monsoon spell was expected after August 22.
“Three more rain spells are moving towards Pakistan,” Dr Shah remarked while referring to a new system moving towards the country from the Bay of Bengal.
Furthermore, another monsoon system is moving towards Pakistan from Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Kandahar regions due to which the country’s northern areas and those from Punjab are at high risk.
Meanwhile, NDMA’s General Manager Zahra Hassan, warned that heavy rains were expected in the next 24 to 48 hours.
Noting that the Tarbela Dam was currently at its 98% capacity, she expressed concern that the water level may increase to a dangerous level in the coming days.
Meanwhile, a new series of rains has started in the areas along Koh-e- Sulaiman mountain range and there is an increased risk of floods in AJK’s Neelum, Pooch and Bagh areas.
