ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned that the monsoon activity in the country is likely to “intensify” from today, Sunday, with torrential rains already killing over 300 in the last three days in the northern regions.
Raging hill torrents swept away dozens of people in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Swat, Buner, Bajaur, Torghar, Mansehra, Shangla and Battagram districts since Friday. According to the National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) latest situation report, at least 645 people have been killed in rain-related incidents since June 26, while 905 have been injured.
Of these, KP has reported the highest deaths at 383, Punjab 164, the northern Gilgit-Baltistan and Sindh with 28 deaths each, Balochistan 29, Azad Kashmir 14 and Islamabad eight casualties. As per the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) KP, 313 people have been killed in the last 72 hours and 156 have been injured.
“According to Met Office, strong monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are continuously penetrating in the country,” the PMD said on its website on Saturday.
“Low Pressure System (LPA) over the Bay of Bengal is likely to move westward from 17th August and intensify this monsoon activity. A westerly wave is also present over the country under the influence of these meteorological conditions,” it added.
