What is the current death toll from Pakistan's intense rainfall?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Over 657 fatalities reported since June due to torrential rains.
- Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is the most affected province.
- Severe weather alerts have been issued by the NDMA.
- Rescue operations are ongoing amidst significant infrastructure damage.
- Public advised to stay vigilant and avoid non-essential travel.
Islamabad, Aug 18 (NationPress) As Pakistan faces one of the most devastating periods of torrential monsoon rains in its history, continuous downpours, flash floods, and landslides have resulted in the deaths of at least 657 individuals and have left nearly 1,000 injured since late June, according to local media reports on Monday.
Data from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) indicates that out of the 657 lives lost in various rain-related incidents since June 26, 171 were children and 94 were women.
Among the provinces, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has suffered the most, with 390 fatalities, comprising 288 men, 59 children, and 43 women.
Punjab has reported 164 deaths, primarily involving children, while Sindh saw 28 fatalities, Balochistan 20, Pakistan-Occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) 32, Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) 15, and Islamabad noted eight casualties due to the rain-induced disasters.
The NDMA's National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has issued an emergency alert forecasting severe rainfall across various regions, including Punjab, K-P, Balochistan, PoK, and parts of Sindh.
This warning follows extensive destruction in K-P, where over 300 people lost their lives in one of the most catastrophic flooding events in the province.
As reported by the K-P Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the death toll from Friday's cloudbursts, lightning strikes, and flash floods had escalated to 323, with 209 of those fatalities occurring in the Buner district, the epicenter of the calamity.
Among the deceased, there were 273 men, 29 women, and 21 children, while the injured included 123 men, 23 women, and 10 children.
The PDMA has indicated that a total of 336 houses have been affected, with 230 partially destroyed and 106 completely demolished across the province.
"Connectivity with numerous settlements in PoGB and K-P has been cut off due to flash floods and landslides. Search operations for missing individuals are ongoing, and additional relief packages will be dispatched tomorrow," quoted NDMA chairman Inam Haider as saying in a leading Pakistani daily, The Express Tribune.
The NDMA has urged citizens to avoid non-essential travel and remain alert amidst changing weather conditions.