Heavy Rains Trigger Devastating Floods in Pakistan’s Mountainous Province
According to Pakistani authorities, at least 393 people have lost their lives due to the intense monsoon rains since last Thursday. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that out of this total, 356 fatalities occurred in the mountainous province of Jaipur Pachtunwa, located in northwestern Pakistan, near the Afghan border.
Since June 26, the monsoon season has claimed a total of 706 lives in Pakistan. Rescue operations are ongoing to locate bodies buried under mud and debris.
Harrowing Accounts from Affected Residents
Gul Hazir, a resident of Bar Dalori, described the situation to AFP: “The rainwater came from two sides and surrounded the village. It was like a scene from an apocalyptic movie; I still can’t believe what I saw.” He further explained, “It wasn’t just water that hit us first; it was rocks and stones falling massively on our homes.”
With no electricity, locals have been desperately searching for their loved ones using whatever tools they can find: shovels, hammers, and cell phones. Some, like Saqib Ghani, have even been searching by hand.
Saqib found the body of his father but continues to search for other family members trapped under the mud brought by the rains.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the current situation in Pakistan due to monsoon rains? Heavy monsoon rains have resulted in devastating floods, causing nearly 400 deaths and a total of 706 fatalities since June 26.
- Which region has been most affected? The mountainous province of Jaipur Pachtunwa, located in northwestern Pakistan near the Afghan border, has experienced the majority of these tragic events with 356 reported fatalities.
- What challenges are locals facing during rescue operations? Residents are struggling without electricity, using limited tools like shovels and hammers to search for their loved ones buried under mud and debris.
- Who is Gul Hazir, and what did he experience? Gul Hazir is a resident of Bar Dalori who described the situation as an apocalyptic scene, with rainwater, rocks, and stones falling massively on homes.
- What is Saqib Ghani’s situation? Saqib Ghani found the body of his father but continues searching for other family members trapped under the mud.
