At least a dozen die as monsoon rains batter Balochistan

• Current monsoon system to remain in Balochistan till Aug 6: PMD.
• System to result in heavy showers, strong winds across province.
• PMD warns against unnecessary travel, going near rivers.
  

As monsoon rains continue to lash various parts of the country, heavy showers in several areas across Balochistan have wreaked havoc killing as many as 12 people in different incidents, the Provincial Disaster Manag­ement Authority (PDMA) said on Sunday.

The heavy torrential rainfall has also left at least 32 people injured as a result of lightning strikes and floods with the rain spell also damaging 263 houses, of which 91 were completely destroyed.

The province is witnessing heavy rains across various areas causing flooding in low-lying areas that has resulted in several areas being cut off due to inundated roads.

The monsoon season, as per the authorities' statement issued on Friday, has resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people across Pakistan due to floods brought by torrential rains with Lahore witnessing almost 360 millimetres of rain which broke a 44-year record.

Earlier, Punjab's capital city had received 332 millimetres of rain over a period of three hours in July 1980.

It is to be noted that the summer monsoon brings to South Asia about 70 to 80% of the region's annual rainfall between June and September.

Global organisations, such as the United Nations, see Pakistan as one of the countries most vulnerable to extreme weather and climate change, with floods wreaking havoc in 2022, killing more than 1,700 people and displacing millions.

The recent torrential rains in Balochistan not only affected 312 acres of crops and 19-kilometre of roads but also resulted in the deaths of 106 animals.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that the current monsoon system will remain in the province till August 6 resulting in heavy rains with strong winds in Khuzdar, Lasbela, Awaran, Panjgur, Barkhan, Musa Khail, Harnai, Naseerabad, Jhal Magsi, Jaffarabad, Dera Bugti, Quetta, Ziarat, Killa Abdullah, Killa Saifullah and Kalat.

Heavy rains are expected to cause landsliding and flooding in various areas, the PMD added.

Issuing directions to relevant departments, PDMA warned the masses against unnecessary travel and from going near rivers.

Furthermore, the provincial irrigation department is also on alert and has barred its officials and personnel from leaving their duty stations without permission.

Meanwhile, officers and workers who are on leave have been directed by Secretary Irrigation Department Abdul Majid to report back to their duties.

Also, the chief engineer of the Naseerabad canal has been ordered to report on the flood situation on a daily basis.