GWADAR/ISLAMABAD/QUETTA: A new spell of torrential rain has entered Balochistan, with rain and thunderstorms lashing many districts, including Quetta, since Wednesday morning. NEOC and multiple weather models’ most recent projections indicate that Pakistan is expected to experience a series of moderate to intense weather systems until April 29.
Furthermore, for the next 24 hours, most of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Islamabad, Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan are expected to see rain, windstorms, thunderstorms, and a few hailstorms, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).
Over 60 people have died across the country as a result of lightning strikes and other storm-related occurrences since Friday.
A weather system is expected to approach Pakistan on April 22 and bring with it thunderstorms and a lot of rain. From April 17 to April 19, Balochistan will be affected, and then Punjab and Sindh from April 18 to April 19. KP, GB, and AJK will be impacted from April 17 to April 22, and the consequences will reach upper Punjab from April 18 to April 21.
After that, on April 23, a weaker weather system is predicted to arrive in Pakistan, bringing with it light rain and thunderstorms to some areas of the nation until April 24. From April 23 to 24, there will be minor effects in Balochistan and upper Punjab; KP, GB, and AJK will also be impacted. It is not anticipated that Sindh would be affected during this time, though.
The National Disaster Management Authority has instructed province and district authorities, together with other pertinent line departments, to remain watchful and ready to respond to any emergency situations based on these estimates.
Rain causes havoc in Balochistan
As a result of washed-out connection roads brought on by heavy rains, several regions in Balochistan’s rain-affected districts are still cut off from Quetta and the district headquarters. Both southern and northern Balochistan have seen significant damage to their housing stock.
Once more, the service of freight trains between Pakistan and Iran was suspended due to heavy rain rupturing the railway track at the Quetta-Zahedan railway segment between Dalbandin and Nokundi. Traffic was disrupted on the Quetta-Taftan route due to flash floods that occurred in the vicinity.
Due to severely damaged inter-district roads, traffic between Harnai, Sanjavi, and Ziarat was suspended, leaving residents stranded without access to Quetta or other locations. Officials said that heavy gear was being used by concerned departments to restore traffic between affected districts.
The recent rainy spell had a significant impact on Gwadar and other Makran region areas, upsetting daily life as rainwater seeped into populated areas. The locals were compelled to evacuate to safe locations after dewatering their homes after earlier intense rains.
Head of the Haq Du Tehreek and MPA from Gwadar, Maulana Hidayatur Rehman, visited regions affected by flooding and gave the go-ahead for the local government to begin rescue and relief efforts right away.
