Pakistan is one of those countries that has been severely hit by the disastrous effects of climate change. And this effect can precisely be seen, especially in the monsoon season that typically falls from July to August in Pakistan. A lot of cities in this season typically report monsoon related deaths, and the same happens during this season as well in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), when the disastrous monsoon rains cause twenty-four (24) casualties, leaving seventeen (17) injured.
According to the Provincial Disastrous Management Authority (PDMA), “The district administration, along with Rescue 1122 and local volunteers, recovered the dead bodies. Non-food items (NFIs) were distributed to the affected families, including tents, mattresses, blankets, kitchen sets, and hygiene kits.” These deaths have been caused by roof collapses, trees tearing apart, electricity short circuits, and other rain-related accidents.
However, it should be noted that Upper Chitral was the prime location where a significant amount of damage was reported, in which 107 houses collapsed all together due to heavy rain and flash floods. This is a climate emergency, and authorities are taking every possible step to mitigate the effects and bring the injured to medical centres. Moreover, a total of 150 houses were damaged altogether in the entire KPK region, of which 77 were partially damaged while the rest 73 were destroyed entirely.
However, PDMA has also warned that the continuing spell of heavy and torrential monsoon rains that will last until August 6 has the capacity to cause “urban flooding in low-lying areas” and “flash flooding in local streams.” The authorities have also predicted landslides and cautioned the general public to avoid visiting these areas until the monsoon rains are over. On that note, the PDMA and other district administrations are currently engaged in protecting the people affected by monsoon rains in KPK and are making efforts to provide relief to those injured.
According to the PDMA weather warning, “scattered heavy with isolated very heavy falls are expected in Dir (Upper & Lower), Bajaur, Chitral (Upper & Lower), Swat, Buner, Malakand, Shangla, Kohistan (lower & upper), Torghar, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mohmand, Peshawar, Khyber, Kohat Hangu, Kurram, Orakzai, Karak, Lakki Marwat, South & North Waziristan, Bannu, Tank, and Dera Ismail Khan districts.”
