Floods in Pakistan have now affected 5 provinces. More heavy rain is expected over the coming days, and authorities have issued river and flash flood warnings.
Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Gilgit Baltistan provinces have all experienced flooding over the last few days. Provincial disaster management authorities (PDMA) have confirmed that 9 people have died as a result of floods and heavy rain since last week.
Punjab
In Punjab, 244 villages have been affected across the districts of Mianwali, D.G. Khan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan. Punjab PDMA say that 39 houses have been damaged and 120 relief camps set up to house 10,255 people displaced by the floods. 3 people died as a result of the floods in Muzaffargarh district.
96mm of rain was recorded in 24 hours in Lahore Shahdara, Punjab on 22 July 2015.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Chitral has been the worst affected district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 3 deaths have been reported and over 150 houses totally destroyed. In their most recent report, PDMA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa say that 11 villages remain inaccessible.
96 mm of rain fell in Balakot and 68 mm in Kakul yesterday.
Balochistan
Heavy rain on 19 July 2015 resulted in flooding in the districts of Kohlu, Dera Bugti and Zhob. Local authorities say that 3 children died and 6 people were injured when a house collapsed in Kohlu district. Local media say that 4 more people were killed after a vehicle was washed away by a seasonal stream in Khuzdar, Balochistan.
Pakistan’s Meteorological Department (PMD) say that “scattered thunderstorm of moderate intensity with isolated heavy falls are expected in Balochistan, especially northeast central and coastal Balochistan which may also cause flooding in local nullahs and rivers.”
Gilgit Baltistan
Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) say that floods have been reported in the district of Skardu in Gilgit Baltistan, although full damage assessments are yet to be carried out. Tents and food packs have been provided to those affected, and work is being carried out on clearing roads and irrigation channels.
Sindh
PMD say that “an active Monsoon weather system is likely to affect Sindh province which may cause fairly widespread thunderstorm/rain of moderate intensity with heavy falls at isolated places and very heavy falls at some places during next 4-5 days”. Flooding is expected in Karachi and Hyderabad during the period.
According to PMD Flood Forecasting Division, the River Indus at Guddu, Sindh, is likely to reach “high flood level” between 24 July and 26 July 2015.
The River Indus at Sukkur, Sindh, is also likely to reach high flood level from 25 July to 27 July 2015.
