By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Severe weather conditions in Pakistan have led to the deaths of 15 people due to lightning strikes in the provinces of Punjab and Balochistan, provincial disaster management authorities said on Saturday.
The PDMA of Punjab confirmed the death of 13 individuals, while Balochistan reported a rise in fatalities with two more deaths, bringing the total to five. The previous day, a man and two children were also victims of lightning strikes in Balochistan amidst heavy rainfall.
Rains, thunderstorms and gusty winds hit Balochistan, Punjab and Khyber Paktunkhwa provinces on Friday. Intermittent showers continued in these regions on Saturday.
Irfan Ali Kathia, Director General Punjab PDMA instructed the deputy commissioners to ensure the injured receive proper medical care.
“Combating natural calamities is only possible with joint and mutual cooperation,” DG Kathia said in a statement. The families of the deceased are to receive financial assistance. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has issued strict instructions against any negligence in handling the situation.
In Balochistan, Younus Mengal, the head of the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre, confirmed additional casualties due to lightning in Dera Bugti and an injury in Kalat district’s Surab area.
The PDMA reported that flooding from the rains caused partial damage to homes in Pishin’s Hamidabad area, prompting evacuations and rescue operations.
The PDMA also reported a death in Loralai caused by a roof collapse, increasing the death toll in Balochistan to six.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the PDMA reported a fatality and two injuries in Lower Chitral due to collapsing structures. Restoration efforts are underway to clear blocked roads.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed various civic agencies to prepare for the anticipated heavy rains. The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has been instructed to maintain clean drainage systems, and the district administration and police have been tasked with public assistance during the rains.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasts more rain in several districts, including Kohlu, Quetta, and Zhob. PDMA Director General Jahanzaib Khan reported extensive flooding in Pishin, with numerous homes destroyed. Rescue teams have been dispatched to the affected areas.
Pakistan, consistently listed among nations most affected by climate change, is once again facing extreme weather, with recent events highlighting its vulnerability to natural disasters.
In the latest calamity, urban floods, triggered by heavy rain, in Balochistan’s Gwadar and Kech districts last month resulted in the destruction of nearly 100 homes and the deaths of at least five people.
The year 2022 was particularly harrowing for Pakistan, as it experienced the deadliest floods in its history. Monsoon rains led to widespread devastation, killing around 1,700 people and affecting over 33 million — nearly the population of Canada. The deluge left behind a trail of destruction, with millions of homes, schools, and infrastructure such as roads and railways in ruins.
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