WEB DESK
Devastating monsoon rains have wreaked havoc across Pakistan, claiming a whopping 337 lives, while injuring another 370.
Moreover, several hundred kilometers of roads and dozens of bridges have been washed away while thousands of houses have been destroyed in the torrential rains. Hundreds of livestock and cattle have also perished in flooding and hill torrents caused by rains.
Data shared by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) showed that from June 14 until now, disaster had struck most parts of the country as abnormal monsoon rains lashed it. Sindh and Balochistan received several times the normal amount of rain as it does during these months.
Moreover, the data showed that among the dead, men suffered the most with 149 casualties reported. This was followed by children, with 131 perishing in rain-related incidents.
Poorest suffer the most
The brunt of the monsoon was felt by one of Pakistan’s poorest regions, Balochistan, which reported the highest death toll of 104, in the country. These included 40 men, 30 women and 34 children.
It also reported the most damage to infrastructure and livestock, losing around 580 kilometres of roads and highways with several areas cut off. At least 11 bridges were also washed away, including key bridges of Hub and Hingol.
As many as 712 livestock heads also perished in the rains.
The bigger catastrophe was the thousands of people left homeless with as many as 2,536 houses completely destroyed and 1,417 houses partially damaged.
On the other hand, Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Gilgit Baltistan (GB), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) reported 81, 71, 67, 8, 5, and one fatality respectively.
The most number of injuries, 192, were reported from Punjab, the most populous province of Pakistan followed by 64 in KP and 61 in Balochistan.
Loss of infrastructure
Monsoon pounded the infrastructure across the country resulting in the loss of at least 50 bridges and 630.5km of road network up until July 27.
As per the data shared by NDMA, 580km of the road network was destroyed throughout Balochistan during the recent floods.
At least 42km of roads were obliterated by monsoon thundershowers in Sindh.
Moreover, at least 2,651 residences were destroyed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 1,673 in Sindh.
Loss of livestock
As many as 1,736 domesticated animals were compromised during the latest torrential rains in the country this July.
The most livestock, 741, was lost in Azad Kashmir followed by 712 in Balochistan.
No loss of livestock was reported in Gilgit Baltistan.
Army assists rescue efforts
Given the gravity of the situation, troops are assisting the civil administration of flood-affected regions of Balochistan and Gilgit Baltistan in rescue and relief efforts.
An official of the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that officers from the Emergency Response teams of the Pakistan Army and Frontier Constabulary (FC) in Balochistan are busy draining water and supplying basic food necessities and medical care to people in affected areas.
Moreover, over 700 families trapped during floods in parts of Balochistan and GB, including Bolan, Lasbela, Othal and Jhal Magsi and Ghizer were shifted to safe places.
Further, the army had established free medical camps at Hub, Lasbela, Othal, Zeropoint, Deodar and Ghizer.
Around 7.5 tons of food items, shelters and other relief materials have also been provided in Lasbela, Othal, Jhal Magsi, Khuzdar and other affected areas.
Standby response teams have also been stationed at various locations in Balochistan for emergency relief activities and to counter any situation due to flooding.
