At least 36 people across Pakistan have lost their lives due to lightning strikes and heavy rains over the past three days. The fatalities were mostly caused by lightning strikes and house collapses in eastern Punjab province. Rainfall also claimed seven lives in southwestern Baluchistan province and eight in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Authorities in the country’s southwest have declared a state of emergency as more rains are expected in the coming days.
In response to the devastating weather conditions, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered authorities to provide relief aid in regions affected by the rains. While the rains are expected to help improve Pakistan’s water reservoirs, the Prime Minister expressed concern over the significant number of deaths and damage caused by the severe weather. Meanwhile, heavy flooding from seasonal rains in Afghanistan has killed 33 people and injured 27 others in just three days.
More than 600 houses in Afghanistan have been damaged or destroyed, along with around 200 livestock, due to the flooding. Large areas of agricultural land and more than 53 miles of roads have also been affected. Authorities in Afghanistan have provided aid to nearly 23,000 families, with flash floods reported in 20 out of the country’s 34 provinces. The Taliban’s spokesman for the State Ministry for Natural Disaster Management expressed the impact of the flooding on the country.
Pakistani environmental expert Rafay Alam noted that the heavy April rainfall seen this year is unusual, pointing to climate change as the cause. He mentioned that two years ago, Pakistan experienced a heatwave in March and April, followed by heavy flooding in 2022. In that year, downpours swelled rivers and flooded one-third of the country, resulting in the loss of 1,739 lives and causing $30 billion in damage. The expert highlighted the importance of recognizing the role of climate change in such extreme weather events.
The recent spate of severe weather in Pakistan and Afghanistan points to the ongoing impact of climate change on the region. With a significant number of lives lost and damage caused by lightning strikes, heavy rains, and flooding, the need for increased preparedness and resilience measures is clear. The declaration of a state of emergency in affected areas underscores the urgent need for coordinated responses to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events on vulnerable populations in both countries. Moving forward, efforts to address the root causes of climate change and adapt to its effects will be crucial in ensuring the safety and well-being of communities in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
