Pakistan Monsoon Carnage: 657 Dead, Thousands Stranded
Deadly rains devastate Pakistan, more storms loom.
Pakistan is reeling from one of its deadliest monsoon seasons, with at least 657 lives lost and nearly 1,000 injured in rain-related incidents since late June, officials reported Monday. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned that the crisis is far from over, with heavy rainfall expected to continue until August 22 and additional monsoon spells forecast for September.
NDMA spokesperson Tayyab Shah, in a Sunday briefing, highlighted the unprecedented intensity of this year’s monsoon, with rainfall 50 to 60% heavier than last year. “This season ranks among the most destructive in recent memory,” Shah said, attributing the severity to climate change. The NDMA reported 171 children, 94 women, and 392 men among the deceased, with 929 others injured across the country.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has borne the brunt, recording 390 deaths, including 288 men, 59 children, and 43 women. Punjab reported 164 fatalities, with 70 children among them, while Sindh and Balochistan recorded 28 and 20 deaths, respectively. Gilgit-Baltistan saw 32 fatalities, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 15, and Islamabad 8, including 4 children.
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In K-P, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported 150 people missing in Buner and Shangla districts. A devastating cloudburst in Buner claimed 84 lives, including 21 members of a family preparing for a wedding. PDMA Director General Asfandyar Khattak said rescue operations are ongoing, supported by five armed forces helicopters and PKR 1.5 billion in relief funds. Relief supplies, including 33 trucks of non-food items for Buner, eight for Swat, and seven for Bajaur, are being dispatched.
Tragedy struck during relief efforts when an MI-17 helicopter crashed on August 15 in Bajaur’s Salarzai area, killing all five crew members. Investigators recovered the black box on Monday, hoping to uncover the cause. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has deployed federal ministers to oversee relief operations in K-P, with truckloads of food rations, tents, and medicines distributed to affected districts.
The education sector has also suffered, with 61 government schools completely destroyed and 414 partially damaged in K-P, disrupting education for thousands. The NDMA’s National Emergency Operations Centre issued alerts for heavy rainfall in Punjab, K-P, Balochistan, and Sindh, warning of potential flash floods and landslides. Authorities urge residents to avoid non-essential travel and stay clear of rivers and landslide-prone areas.
As Pakistan grapples with this climate-driven catastrophe, experts warn that erratic monsoon patterns are exacerbating vulnerabilities, reminiscent of the 2022 floods that killed over 1,700 and affected 33 million. Relief efforts continue, but the looming threat of more rains underscores the urgent need for enhanced disaster preparedness.
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