Balochistan, Sindh see over 100% above average rainfall in monsoon 2024

Balochistan and Sindh have witnessed above 100 percent increase in rain during the recently wrapped up monsoon season 2024, according to the statistics issued by the Pakistan Meteorologist Department (PMD).

The data shared by the department showed that Balochistan and Sindh received above-than-normal rain during the monsoon season, which commenced in July and end ended in September.

According to the Met office, below-than-average rains were recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu Kashmir.

The 58-millimetre rains were predicted in Balochistan, on contrast, the province received 122.9mm of downpours, showing a 111 percent increase from normal.

Similarly, the normal rain predicted rain for Sindh was 133.7mm, but after an increase of 108 percent, the province experienced 278.4mm downpours.

"So, monsoon 2024 at the end of the season proved to be 51 percent above average for the country as a whole, Balochistan experienced 111 percent increase, Sindh 108 percent while Punjab witnessed 48 percent additional rain,” said Chief meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz.

However, Azad Jammu Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa experienced -21 percent and -5 percent below the average rain, respectively.

Meanwhile, Gilgit Baltistan witnessed a slight increase of 2 percent in monsoon rain. 

It is pertinent to mention here that it had already been predicted that Sindh and Balochistan were expecting ‘above than normal’ rain in monsoon season 2024. 

However, the torrential rains severely damaged the infrastructure of the country, leaving 195 dead, while 362 were injured from July 1 to August 17, said the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).