ISLAMABAD: Pakistani disaster authorities on Wednesday warned of continuing flood risks across the country as monsoon rains that began in late June have killed more than 1,000 people and affected millions, according to official figures.
Heavy monsoon rains and floods have killed at least 1,006 people and injured more than 1,000 since June 26 when this year’s monsoon season started.
Punjab province, the country’s agricultural heartland and most populous province, has been the worst affected since late August, with more than 4,700 villages submerged and 4.7 million people impacted due to rivers swelling after heavy downpours and India releasing water from its dams. Authorities say they have launched the province’s largest-ever search and rescue operation, moving 2.6 million people and 2.1 million animals to safer ground.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Wednesday rain was expected in the next 24 hours over the upper catchments of the Indus and Kabul rivers as well as parts of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, even as dry conditions were forecast across most regions until Sept. 29.
The NDMA said Kotri Barrage, a major flood-control structure on the Indus River downstream of Hyderabad, was under pressure.
