Eastern Punjab, Sindh continue facing monsoon brunt
Pakistan
Downpour lashes Okara, Pakpattan, Kasur, Hyderabad on Tuesday morning
LAHORE/KARACHI – Eastern parts of Punjab received heavy downpour on Tuesday morning as rain lashed Sindh – including Karachi, Hyderabad and Dadu – for the third day consecutive day, inundating low-lying areas amid a depleted civic infrastructure.
The death toll during the ongoing monsoon season continues to rise as woman was killed with her husband and sister receiving injuries as the roof of their house collapsed at Yar Muhammad Barohi village of Shahdad Kot, Sindh.
Separately, a girl buried alive when in another roof collapse incident at Allahabad – a town in Kasur district of Punjab where three persons, including children, were injured in two similar incidents in Narang Mandi and Chunian.
Clouds started developing over eastern Punjab after midnight with rain starting to pour down before sunrise in Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, Okara, Kasur and other areas.
But it is Okara which has received heaviest rainfall – 143mm – according to the information received so far, turning roads and streets into streams as rainwater entered shops and houses, causing a huge loss to the citizens.
On the other hand, downpour hit Pakpattan and surrounding region for four hours after which power supply was suspended in the area as the distribution system cannot cope with the weather changes.
Similarly, Kasur is witnessing extreme weather. The entire city is submerged with the rainwater accumulated on streets as well as markets and residential areas, again showing that urban centres in Pakistan – be it large or small – lack even proper drainage system.
Meanwhile, downpour started in Hyderabad around 2am which continued till sunrise as different neighbourhoods and business centres turned into streams and lakes.
Karachi, Dadu and other parts of Sindh were also lashed by heavy rain as the Met Office has predicted more downpour during the next 24 hours.
According to the Met, the chief amounts of rain [in mm] recorded during the past 24 hours [till 8am] are given as:
Punjab: Okara 143, Kasur 106, Rawalpindi (Katcheri 70, Chaklala 62), DG Khan 60, Multan (Airport 57, City 22), Gujranwala 42, Islamabad (Bokra 25).
Sindh: Karachi (Surjani Town 100, Saadi Town 58, Gulshan-e-Maymar 54, University Road 52, North Karachi 51, Orangi Town 43), Sukkur and Thatta 90, Hyderabad (City 87, Airport 69), Tando Jam 82, Khairpur 63, Rohri 53, Larkana 51, Diplo 45, Nagar Parker 38, Jacobabad 40, Badin 39.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Bannu 78, Peshawar (City) 30.
Kashmir: Garhi Dupatta 36, Muzaffarabad (Airport 30, City 26).
Balochistan: Zhob 24, Ormara 10
Gilgit-Baltistan: Astore 18.
The Met Office says heavy rains may cause flash flooding in streams of DG Khan, northeast and southern Balochistan on during the next 48 hours [Tuesday and Wednesday].
Widespread rain and thunderstorm with wind are expected in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Islamabad on Tuesday, while at scattered places in Sindh and east/south Balochistan.
It has also warned of extreme weather events during the same period in northeast/eastern Punjab and northeast Balochistan.
