Torrential monsoon rains claim 195 lives across Pakistan

Torrential rains and thunderstorms across Pakistan claimed over 195 lives in the last 37 days, according to the report issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

The report encircled the devastation of properties, crops, livestock, and casualties caused by the monsoon spells.

According to the report, from July 1 to August 17, the death toll from rains reached 195, including 68 in Punjab, 65 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 32 in Sindh, 15 in Balochistan, 4 in Azad and Jammu Kashmir. 

Meanwhile, 362 people were injured during the period, the report added.

As many as 645 houses were complete and 419 were partially damaged due to the rains.

The report revealed that eight schools and 323 animals were also killed in different parts of the country.

On the other hand, the National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) predicted that more monsoon spells are expected to hit several low-lying parts of the country which would cause urban flooding in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sheikupura, Kasur, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Nowshera and Peshawar from August 18 to 19.

The NDMA directed all relevant authorities and concerned departments to take necessary precautions to address the possible effects of extreme weather.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan in the recent year, 2022, passed through a catastrophic flood that severely affected the province Sindh, submerged hundreds of thousands of houses and displaced 33 million people.