111 monsoon-related deaths in Pakistan since late June: NDMA

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s disaster management agency on Monday said 111 people including 53 children have been killed in incidents linked to heavy monsoon rains which arrived in late June.

The latest data shared by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) showed that between June 26 and July 14 there were 111 deaths across the country, with electrocution the leading cause of fatalities, followed by flash floods.

Read more: Urban flooding expected as monsoon to hit Pakistan from 25th

Meanwhile, the highest number of fatalities, 39, were recorded in Punjab, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 31, Sindh 17, Balochistan 16, and AJK one.

Pakistan is located in a region worst affected by climate change, which has been experiencing droughts, erratic rains, high temperature, heatwaves and others related phenomenon during past three decades.

The 2024-25 winter is a example where Pakistan received very little rain and snowfall. It meant higher temperature and a shortened winter as well as spring seasons.

Later, Pakistan started experiencing heatwaves in April, a series that lasted till early June.

The exceptionally high temperatures resulted in violent storms in May and June, after westerlies affected the country. It was a result of the colder weather systems from the west interacting with the hotter atmosphere due to the extremely high temperatures.

Meanwhile, climate change means the storms and rains are more intense, with rate of per hour rainfall exceeding 80mm regularly.

Read more: Report says new UK weather records being set ‘very frequently’

It is worth noting the rainfall rate in the case of cloudburst is 100mm or more per hour.

MORE RAINS ARE COMING

In a latest advisory on Monday, the Met Office says a low pressure area, presently located over northwest Madhya Pradesh (India), is likely to affect Pakistan during next 24 to 72 hours.

Under the influence of this weather system strong monsoon currents are expected to penetrate central and upper parts of Pakistan.

At the same time, a westerly wave is also present over upper parts of the country.

Due to these meteorological conditions, the forecast says, Punjab, Islamabad, Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will receive rain-wind/thundershower with scattered heavy to very heavy or extremely heavy falls from July 14 (Monday) evening night to July 17.

On the other hand, the weather system will affect northeastern and southern Balochistan as well as eastern and southern Sindh from July 14 to July 16.