The recent heavy rains that swept across Pakistan have resulted in significant devastation, with at least 29 people reported dead and 50 others injured. Collapsed houses and triggered landslides have blocked roads, particularly in the northwest region, according to authorities speaking on Sunday.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bordering Afghanistan, has reported about 23 rain-related deaths since Thursday night, as stated by the provincial disaster management authority.
Additionally, five people lost their lives in southwestern Baluchistan province after floods inundated the coastal town of Gwadar, prompting authorities to conduct evacuations using boats.
Authorities are dispatching emergency relief and deploying heavy machinery to clear debris obstructing highways, according to official sources.
The Karakoram Highway, crucial for connecting Pakistan with China, remains partially blocked due to landslides triggered by the recent rain and snowfall, as reported by Faizullah Faraq, the spokesperson for the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region.
Faraq noted that the snowfall this year has been unusually heavy for this season. In light of the adverse weather conditions, authorities have cautioned against tourist travel to the scenic northern areas. Just last week, several visitors found themselves stranded due to heavy rains.
Pakistan has experienced a delay in winter rains this year, with precipitation starting in February instead of November. The recurring monsoon and winter rains pose an annual threat of damage in the country.
In 2022, Pakistan experienced unprecedented rainfall and flooding, resulting in devastation across many regions.
The disaster claimed the lives of over 1,739 people, affected approximately 33 million individuals, and displaced nearly 8 million people.
The extensive damage caused by the disaster amounted to billions of dollars. Meanwhile, in neighbouring Afghanistan, authorities reported that harsh winter weather had led to the deaths of over 5,000 livestock and the destruction of 403 homes in various parts of the country over the past three days.
The Taliban-run administration stated that it had allocated 50 million Afghanis ($681,000) in assistance for those affected. Mohammad Naseem Moradi, the head of the national meteorological department, highlighted that similar weather conditions were last observed in 2015.