Pakistan: Monsoon Deluge Claims Nine Lives, Including Five Children, In Balochistan and KP

Five children have died in Balochistan and four in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past 24 hours due to severe monsoon rains, exacerbated by Cyclonic Storm Asna, as reported by Dawn News on Tuesday. The ongoing heavy rains have caused widespread destruction and triggered extensive relief operations.

In Balochistan, the death toll since July 1 has risen to 39, including 19 children. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) noted that a new round of rain has impacted 22 districts, with relief efforts continuing. On Monday, tragic incidents included two brothers drowning in Zhob District’s flash floods, and three children falling into a dam in Khuzdar District’s Tootak area, with two later dying in the hospital. Another child drowned in the Kech River.

The PDMA has declared 11 districts in Balochistan as disaster-stricken, suspending holidays for employees to aid the response. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, heavy rains have led to three deaths from a landslide in Upper Kohistan and one minor struck by lightning in Malakand District. The Karakoram Highway, blocked by landslides, has been reopened after debris removal.

The province has recorded 96 deaths and 133 injuries from rain-related incidents since July 1, with 963 houses damaged. Other regions, including Punjab and Sindh, are preparing for more rain, with Lahore having experienced 201mm of rainfall, raising flood concerns. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted further rain in eastern Sindh and isolated thunderstorms in Karachi. Authorities nationwide remain vigilant as disaster management teams work tirelessly to manage the ongoing crisis.