Over the past 24 hours, five children have died in Balochistan and four people have lost their lives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as monsoon rains continue to wreak havoc across Pakistan, officials reported on Tuesday.
In Balochistan, the recent rainfall has been devastating, with 39 deaths reported since July 1, according to Younus Mengal, head of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). The fatalities include 19 children, five of whom died in separate incidents on Monday.
Mengal detailed that two brothers drowned in flash floods in Zhob District, while three children fell into a dam in Khuzdar District; two of them died despite rescue efforts. Another child drowned in the Kech River.
Eleven districts in Balochistan have been declared calamity-hit, and relief operations are underway.
The PDMA’s report highlights severe damage: 895 homes have been completely destroyed, and over 14,000 have suffered partial damage. The floods have affected more than 111,400 people, damaged seven bridges, 74 kilometers of roads, and seven medical units.
The agricultural sector has also been hit hard, with 58,830 acres of crops affected and 373 livestock casualties reported.
In KP, four deaths have been reported in the last day. Three people died when a bus was struck by a landslide in Upper Kohistan, and a minor was killed by lightning in Malakand District.
The Karakoram Highway, which had been blocked by landslides, has been reopened, allowing stranded vehicles to proceed. The PDMA noted that Kumrat Valley Road in Upper Dir’s Thal area remains blocked due to landslides, and efforts are underway to clear it and establish alternate routes.
Nationwide, rainfall continues to impact various regions. In Punjab, heavy rain has been reported, with Lahore receiving 201 millimeters and Gujranwala 196 millimeters in the past 24 hours.
Sindh, while currently dry, is bracing for additional monsoon showers, with Karachi expected to see isolated thunderstorms and rain over the coming days. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued alerts for continued heavy rains and thunderstorms in several districts.
The ongoing monsoon and remnants of Cyclone Asna have created significant challenges, prompting emergency responses and relief efforts across affected areas.
