On Sunday night, many regions in Pakistan were hit by extreme weather, resulting in lightning strikes and torrential rain that claimed the lives of 12 people and injured 15 others.
Lightning struck at Punjab’s Narowal, Pasrur, Sheikhupura and Sialkot districts, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals, including children, and injuring seven more.
In Lahore, a powerful rainstorm also caused damage to 150 power feeders. Heavy rains caused numerous issues for residents, including power outages and flooded roads.
Due to the heavy rainfall, the roof of a home collapsed in Takhta Band village in Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, leading to the death of a woman and injuries to six others.
Heavy rains were also experienced in Shabqadar, Swat, Charsadda, Mansehra, Lower Dir, Swabi, and North Waziristan.
The Met Office has predicted that moist currents are entering the upper and central parts of the country from the Arabian Sea, and a westerly wave entered the upper regions of the country on June 25. Consequently, severe weather conditions are likely to persist.
In Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Chitral, Swat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Kurram, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Mianwali, Sargodha, Hafizabad, and MB Din, rain/wind-thundershower with isolated heavy falls is also expected from 26th to 29th June. In addition, Barkhan, Loralai, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Kalat, Khuzdar, Zhob, Ziarat, Musakhel, D I Khan, Karak, Waziristan, D G Khan, Rajanpur, Multan, Bhakkar, Layyah, Kot Addu, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Okara, may experience heavy rainfalls during the same period, while Sukkur, Jacobabad, and Larkana may see them on 27th and 28th June.
The PMD also warned that current heatwave conditions are likely to subside during the projected period.
On June 26 and 27, heavy rains could lead to urban floods in low-lying districts of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, and Lahore. They may also trigger landslides in regions prone to such occurrences, like Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, and hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Intense rain may result in flash flooding in the hill torrents of D G Khan and neighboring regions of northeast Balochistan.
During the projected period, “all concerned authorities are advised to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions,” added the PMD.
