A dust storm approaches the town of Normal, Illinois, United States, on May 16, 2025, in this screenshot obtained from a social media video. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD/QUETTA:
As much of the country continues to pay the price for recent deadly rains, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned of another risk on Sunday.
widespread episodes of rain, windstorms and thunderstorms
is expected to hit northeast Balochistan, lower Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and southern Punjab on April 6 (today), raising fears of further disruption and damage.
The warning comes as Balochistan, which is still struggling to recover from the recent devastating downpours that claimed the lives of 12 people, including eight children, is bracing for another intense weather system that has already entered the province since the evening of April 5 and is expected to persist until April 7.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the previous wave left 15 people injured, including 10 children, four women and a man, while floodwaters damaged 160 houses – 33 completely destroyed and 127 partially affected – in Kech, Harnai, Kohlu, Loralai, Jaffarabad, Kachhi, Musakhel, Duki and Zhob districts.
Financial losses were also reported from Naseerabad, Chaman, Quetta, Hub, Awaran, Lasbela and Pishin.
According to officials, rescue teams, district administrations and Frontier Corps personnel remain engaged in relief operations even as authorities go into high alert mode in anticipation of the new period.
The PMD and PDMA warned that the new system, driven by strong westerly winds, was likely to affect almost all major districts of Balochistan, bringing thunderstorms, strong winds, heavy rains and hailstorms.
Northern and central districts including Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Noshki, Zhob, Kalat, Khuzdar, Mastung, Sibi and Kohlu are expected to bear the brunt, while southern and coastal areas such as Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara, Turbat, Panjgur and Lasbela may also experience significant rainfall.
Authorities warned of flash flooding in local waterways, urban flooding and landslides in mountainous terrain, posing serious risks to settlements near waterways and those traveling on hilly roads.
Residents were urged to avoid unnecessary travel, especially to vulnerable areas, keep children indoors during storms and stay away from exposed electrical infrastructure and weak structures.
Emergency services, ambulances and paramedics have been put on standby, with citizens advised to contact rescue services in the event of an emergency.
In Quetta, dark clouds covered the city with the onset of rains, causing power outages in several areas, while gas supply disruptions, including night-time load shedding, added to the plight of the population, prompting calls for help during the current weather period.
Meanwhile, the situation in KP remains equally grim as the provincial disaster management authority reports 50 deaths, including 26 children, and 111 injured in rain-related incidents since March 25.
