How Many Lives Have Torrential Rains Claimed in Pakistan?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Over 79 lives lost due to torrential rains.
- Major cities like Lahore and Faisalabad are severely affected.
- High alert issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
- Public health concerns are rising due to sewage overflow.
- Infrastructure challenges exacerbate the situation.
Islamabad, July 10 (NationPress) As relentless monsoon rains continue to inundate Pakistan, flash floods, landslides, and lightning strikes have tragically resulted in at least 11 additional fatalities on Thursday. This grim statistic elevates the total death toll across the nation since June 26 to over 79, as reported by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
In Kasur district, two children and a woman lost their lives due to electrocution, while others perished in various incidents related to flooding and lightning strikes throughout the country, according to local media.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a high alert for multiple regions, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, and districts in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, as the relentless downpour persists.
Moreover, numerous roads across these cities have been rendered impassable due to flooding, significantly disrupting traffic, as reported by The Express Tribune.
Urban flooding has severely affected major cities like Lahore, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala, where rainwater has submerged low-lying areas, paralyzing transportation. Key roads in several important localities remain flooded, causing widespread chaos.
Forecasts indicate that heavy rainfall is expected to continue until Friday, further heightening the risk of flash floods.
In Punjab province, cities such as Sialkot, Gujrat, Chiniot, Kasur, Ferozewala, and Sargodha have reported intense rainfall coupled with thunder and lightning.
According to the Water and Sanitation Agency's (Wasa) Monsoon Control Room, Lahore recorded an average of 58.8mm of rain, with certain areas like Nishtar Town experiencing up to 84mm. Following closely were Lakshmi Chowk (78mm) and Paniwala Talab (74mm).
The heavy rainfall exposed flaws in the drainage management as key city areas like Jail Road, Qurtaba Chowk, and Wasa Head Office in Gulberg became waterlogged.
Despite the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) asserting that over 6,000 waste containers were cleared and cleaning crews deployed, residents voiced their frustration over the lack of visible improvement.
The mixture of rainwater and overflowing sewage has raised significant public health concerns, with residents finding it increasingly difficult to navigate the clogged roads.
"Major roads remain submerged, and there is no assistance from the administration," stated Asif Mahmood, a shopkeeper at Lakshmi Chowk, in an interview with Dunya News.
The situation has further deteriorated in hilly regions, particularly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Murree, where the risk of landslides is ever-present.
In Balochistan, areas like Zhob and Sibi have been severely impacted.