ISLAMABAD: A senior official of Pakistan’s Meteorological Department warned that a “more intense” monsoon spell is likely to affect several parts of the country from today, Monday, as the death toll from rain-related incidents since late June surged to 279.
The Met Office warned last week that monsoon currents penetrating into Pakistan’s upper and central parts are likely to intensify from Monday while a westerly wave is also expected to approach the country on Tuesday. The Met Office had also warned that heavy rains may generate flash floods in local nullahs and streams across the country.
Monsoon rains in Pakistan have wreaked havoc since June 26, killing 279 people and injuring 676 across the country, according to data by the National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) latest situation report. Punjab has reported the highest number of deaths, 151, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with 64, Sindh with 25, Balochistan with 20, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) nine, Islamabad eight and Azad Kashmir two casualties.
“Another monsoon spell will affect the country’s northern areas from today,” PMD Deputy Director Anjum Nazir Zaigham told Geo News, a private news channel, on Monday morning. “And this spell will be more intense than the previous one.”
