Hard rain has caused problems all over Pakistan, but nowhere worse than in Punjab province. The ceaseless deluge has led to heavy flooding in many districts, causing enormous damage and loss of life.
Torrential rains caused tragic accidents claiming eight lives and leaving many others injured in Faisalabad, Narowal, and Rahim Yar Khan cities. City drainage systems were overwhelmed by the intensity of the rainfall leading to flash floods as well as waterlogging in several localities. Rain-induced accidents ranged from electrocutions following power lines falling to building collapses due to accumulated rainwater weight.
Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan: Overflowing Rivers and Streams Punjab
In southern Punjab especially Rajanpur and the hilly terrains of Koh-e-Sulaiman in Dera Ghazi Khan, the situation turned critical after heavy downpours swelled rivers and streams beyond their banks. Normally quiet rivers turned into raging torrents, sweeping away everything in their path, while overflowing streams submerged vast agricultural lands and posed great danger to people, forcing their evacuation to higher ground.
Koh-e-Sulaiman’s mountainous areas known for rough landscapes became dangerous when mudslides triggered by non-stop torrents blocked roads thereby cutting off villages from each other; district administration is working around the clock trying to restore connectivity among affected residents besides providing relief items where necessary.
Balochistan Floods: Agricultural Damage & Infrastructure Collapse Punjab
Pakistan’s largest province by area – Balochistan did not escape the wrath brought about by this harsh weather pattern either; flash floods experienced in different parts led to wide-ranging destruction such as crops thus compounding challenges for local farmers already grappling with economic downturn conditions. On top of that walls along with solar panels collapsed during flooding leaving ten persons injured.
At Chaman flood waters washed away a section of the railway track thereby disrupting the strategic rail links between Iran; Nushki also witnessed a similar scenario after a crack appeared along the railway track causing the suspension of train service between these two countries thus affecting not only business activities but also the movement of essential commodities.
Jacobabad and Sindh Crisis: Canal Breach & Record Rainfall
In Jacobabad, Sindh things went from bad to worse when a canal near the Garhi Khairo area breached its bank leaving fields nearby swamped under water including large tracts of rice cropland. Damage done to crops could have long-term effects on agriculture output for this region leading to food shortages over the next few months.
Meanwhile, other parts of Sindh particularly Khairpur as well as Sukkur experienced heavy rains never seen before with the latter recording 180mm thereby causing floods that brought power blackouts; continuous downpours overwhelmed infrastructure here rendering useless critical services across many locations.
Floods and Landslides in South Waziristan and Khyber
Torrential rains triggered flash flooding in South Waziristan, pounding various parts of the district and leaving behind a trail of destruction. Floodwaters swept through Jandola Bazaar, destroying shops and causing extensive damage to agricultural lands. Regional roads especially Wana-Gomal Zam Road became impassable due to landslide burying it further thus complicating relief operation efforts.
Likewise, Khyber also saw rain-fed streams in spate due to heavy rains which caused flash floods that put lives and properties at risk. Local communities have responded without receiving any immediate help from the government by initiating actions aimed at safeguarding their homes as well as loved ones from being swept away by increasing waters.
Government Reaction and What May Come Next
The Meteorological Department has warned of more downpours in parts of Sindh, Punjab, and eastern Balochistan. With the situation still dire, Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz has taken preemptive measures against flood damage reduction. She ordered all concerned authorities to be on high alert while ensuring readiness among emergency response teams.
CM Maryam Nawaz herself has stressed the importance of implementing SOPs for managing floods within the Koh-e-Sulaiman area of Dera Ghazi Khan. These precautions are crucial for averting potential damage from upcoming floods and for saving lives and livelihoods in these disaster-prone areas.
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The aftermaths of these catastrophic rainstorms will now shift Pakistan’s focus toward recovery as well as reconstruction activities. This natural calamity could entail a long process before full recuperation is realized therefore both the government’s action plan(s) together with affected community’s resilience will heavily impact how soon this nation bounces back.
