By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The death toll from urban floods hammering many cities in Pakistan rose on Thursday as record torrential rainfall flooded streets and damaged homes and other buildings, with more rain expected during the week.
At least 24 more people had been killed in downpours the previous day, mainly in poorly developed Baluchistan province.
“At least 23 people, including women and children, died in different accidents like wall and roof collapses and drownings,” said an official.
Total deaths were now closed to 100 in rain-related incidents across the country during the past three weeks.
The monsoon rains also damaged homes, roads, bridges and power stations across the country since June 14
TV footage showed some vehicles being swept away by the deluges of floods in Baluchistan
The Baluchistan government has declared emergency for the next 24 hours
Streets and homes were flooded in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, the provincial disaster management agency said.
The recent rains in Pakistan were 87 percent heavier than the average downpour. Government officials linked the new pattern to the changes in climate, saying Pakistan should be ready to face more flooding because the country’s glaciers are melting at a faster pace. That’s causing flash floods that have damaged infrastructure.
Every year, many cities in Pakistan struggle with the annual monsoon deluge, drawing criticism about poor government planning. The season runs from July through September and experts say rains are essential for irrigating crops and replenishing dams and other water reservoirs in Pakistan.
Some of the areas in southern Pakistan have faced drought since earlier this year. Sindh has received 261 percent more rains than average while Baluchistan has received 274 percent, which is the highest so far.
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