PMD forecasts more rains for Karachi

• PMD says the weather to remain cloudy in Karachi today.
• Light to heavy monsoon rains expected, Met Office says.
• Rainwater accumulates in low-lying areas of Karachi.
• Country-wide death toll rises to 80, most deaths in Balochistan.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast more rains for the port city today (Thursday) as intermittent downpour continues across the country — with monsoon rains claiming over 75 lives.

Official statistics showed that 80 people have died in rain-related incidents since the start of monsoon rains in Pakistan, with Balochistan posting the highest death toll at 42 — including 16 women and 13 children.

Commuters and pedestrians continued to face hurdles as the downpour in the city continued for the third day, with rainwater accumulating in low-lying areas.

The weather will remain cloudy today, while light to heavy monsoon rains are expected in the port city, the meteorological department said in a statement.

“Strong moist currents are penetrating upper parts of the country. A westerly wave is also affecting upper and central parts,” the meteorological department said.

Under the influence of the weather system, heavy falls may generate urban flooding in Khuzdar, Kalat, Lasbella, Naseerabad, Gwadar, Panjgur, Turbat and other areas of Balochistan, it added.

“More rain-wind-thundershower is expected in Balochistan, Sindh, Kashmir, Islamabad, northeastern Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan,” it added.

A breach was reported in Balochistan’s Kakar Khurasan Dam, while other dams also reported overflows and damages. The roads in several districts are inundated, causing trouble to travellers, while more rains are expected across the province.

Across Punjab as well, the downpour continued for the third day, with low-lying areas in Rahim Yar Khan being inundated and people dying in Multan due to rain-related incidents.