ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday inspected the flood-hit district of Buner in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, one of the worst-affected areas in the ongoing monsoon season, where at least 228 people have died since last Friday out of 377 reported across the province.
The annual monsoon rains are vital for agriculture, food security and the livelihoods of millions of farmers in Pakistan, though in recent years they have caused intense flooding and landslides amid shifting weather patterns that scientists attribute to climate change worldwide.
Pakistan is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations and has recorded at least 707 deaths, including 427 in KP, since the start of the season on June 26, with weather authorities warning of more rains in the coming days.
“The Prime Minister departed to visit the flood-affected district of Buner,” said his office in a statement. “During the journey, he conducted an aerial inspection of flood conditions and damage in Buner and Shangla.”
“The Prime Minister will meet flood victims in Buner and distribute relief checks among them,” the statement added.
According to KP’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), 377 people, including 294 men, 50 women and 33 children, have died and 182 others have been injured in rains and flash floods across several districts since last week.
The agency said 1,377 houses had been damaged, including 355 completely destroyed, with the highest losses reported in Buner.
The PDMA said local administrations had been instructed to accelerate relief efforts and its emergency operations center was fully active.
KARACHI RAINS
Separately, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned of extremely heavy rains in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Mirpurkhas and Sukkur in the next 12 to 24 hours, forecasting more than 100 mm of rain in a short span of time.
The NDMA said urban flooding could persist in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Mirpurkhas due to poor drainage, while flash floods were possible in Thatta, Badin, Jamshoro and Dadu.
It warned that rising water levels in the Indus River and its tributaries could inundate low-lying areas, potentially disrupting transport, electricity and telecommunications. Residents were advised to move valuables and livestock to safer ground and prepare emergency supplies.
RIVER FLOWS
In Punjab province, the PDMA said melting glaciers and monsoon rains were increasing river flows.
The Indus River was experiencing medium-level flooding at Chashma and Taunsa barrages, and low-level flooding at Tarbela, Kalabagh and Sukkur. Low-level flooding was also reported at points along the Sutlej River, while the Jhelum, Chenab and Ravi rivers were flowing normally with some tributaries at low flood levels.
The PDMA Punjab, in a separate alert issued on Wednesday, warned of a further rise in water levels from August 24 due to “severe thunderstorms in the upper parts of rivers.”
It cautioned of a medium-level flood risk in the Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala and said a low- to medium-level flood situation could persist in the Indus. The authority instructed all commissioners, deputy commissioners and relevant departments to remain on alert, ensure advance preparations and deploy rescue teams at sensitive locations.
The authority said Tarbela Dam was 99 percent full and Mangla Dam 74 percent, urging citizens to take precautions and cooperate with authorities in case of emergency evacuation.
