Landslides triggered by torrential rains have blocked several key roads in northern Pakistan, stranding tourists and disrupting traffic, as the death toll from weather-related incidents in the past month rose to at least 133.
Thousands of tourists have thronged scenic tourist destinations in the north in recent days, ignoring warnings from the disaster management agency, which asked people last week to avoid unnecessary trips as ongoing monsoon rains can cause landslides and flash floods.
Pakistan witnessed unprecedented monsoon rains last year that led to flash floods across the country and killed about 1,700 people. The erratic weather also destroyed houses, crops and public infrastructure in different parts of the country, making the government estimate damages that exceeded beyond $30 billion.
Heavy rains have swollen three main rivers — the Jhelum, Sutlej and Chenab in eastern Punjab province — prompting the disaster management agency to be on high alert for more flash floods, which have already affected at least 15,000 people in the past three weeks.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of KP, at least 12 houses were completely destroyed by the recent rains and floods in the province while 83 had been partially damaged.
The PDMA statement informed that several communities in Lower Chitral had been shifted to safer places ahead of more rains and provided dry rations.
Monsoon rains have returned to Pakistan a year after devastating floods killed 1,739 people across the country. The monsoon season, which officially began on July 1, will continue until September in the country.
