At least 50 individuals have tragically lost their lives due to heavy rains and lightning strikes across Pakistan over the past three days, according to officials.
In response, authorities have declared a state of emergency in certain regions.
Farmers harvesting wheat were among those fatally struck by lightning, while the relentless rains resulted in the collapse of numerous houses in the northwest and eastern Punjab province.
Arfan Kathia, a spokesperson for the provincial disaster management authority, reported that 21 fatalities occurred in Punjab alone, with forecasts indicating the likelihood of additional rainfall throughout the week.
Khursheed Anwar, representing the disaster management authority in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, confirmed the tragic loss of 21 lives in the region.
Streets in the northwestern city of Peshawar and Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan, were inundated with floodwaters.
Commenting on the unusual intensity of April rainfall, Pakistani environmental expert Rafay Alam noted the anomaly.
“Two years ago, Pakistan experienced a heatwave during March and April, and now we’re seeing heavy rains, all due to climate change,” remarked Rafay Alam.
He highlighted the link between climate change and the devastating flooding witnessed in 2022.
During that year, downpours led to swollen rivers and submerged one-third of Pakistan, resulting in the tragic loss of 1,739 lives.
The floods also inflicted extensive damage estimated at $30 billion.
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