Saturday, April 20: Over the past week, Afghanistan and Pakistan experienced heavy rainfall, leading to widespread infrastructure and farmland damage on both sides of the border. As per reports, the rain, brought by remnants of severe thunderstorms that previously affected the United Arab Emirates and Oman, exceeded 200mm in northern regions of both countries.
Pakistan endured tragic consequences, with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reporting at least 87 fatalities and 82 injuries from rain-related incidents over the past week. The NDMA further noted that 2,715 houses across the country sustained partial or full damage, with most casualties resulting from structural collapses, lightning strikes, and flash floods.
The worst-hit areas included the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where 36 fatalities and 53 injuries occurred, and the eastern Punjab province, which reported 25 deaths and eight injuries. Additionally, southwestern Balochistan province recorded 15 fatalities and 10 injuries, while Pakistan-occupied Kashmir saw 11 deaths and 11 injuries due to heavy rainfall.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences for the lives lost and urged relevant departments to accelerate relief efforts and reopen roads affected by rains and landslides. The NDMA's weather prediction report suggested continued rainfall until April 22, warning of potential flash floods in various parts of the country.
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The above article has been published from a wire agency with minimal modifications to the headline and text.
