According to multiple media reports, Pakistani authorities on Sunday reported heavy rains over the past 48 hours which killed at least 29 people and injured 50 across the country. The heavy rainfall led to landslides and the collapse of numerous houses. A lot of roads were blocked particularly in the northwest side of the country. Concurrently, Pakistan is also grappling with severe snowfall.
Rain-related fatalities in Pakistan
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bordering Afghanistan, witnessed around 23 rain-related fatalities since Thursday night, as stated by the provincial disaster management authority, media reports stated. Additionally, five individuals lost their lives in the southwestern Baluchistan province, where the coastal town of Gwadar faced flooding, necessitating the use of boats for evacuations.
Landslides and blocked roads in Pakistan
Casualties and damages were also reported in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, according to the National Disaster Management Authority. Emergency relief efforts are currently underway in affected regions, with heavy machinery deployed to clear blocked highways.
The Karakoram Highway, connecting Pakistan with China, remains obstructed in certain areas due to landslides, as confirmed by Faizullah Faraq, spokesman for the northern Gilgit Baltistan region. Authorities have cautioned against tourist travel to the scenic north due to adverse weather conditions, following incidents of visitors becoming stranded there during the recent heavy rains.
This year, Pakistan experienced an unusual delay in winter rains, beginning in February instead of November, with monsoon and winter rains causing annual damage. In 2022, the country faced unprecedented devastation from climate-induced monsoon rains and flooding, resulting in over 1,739 fatalities, impacting approximately 33 million people, and displacing nearly 8 million. The floods also inflicted billions of dollars in damages to the economy, with some affected individuals still residing in temporary shelters.