Stormy rains kill two kids in KP; rivers swell as Skardu delinked

Heavy monsoon rains continued to batter Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) on Friday, leaving two children dead, injuring four other people and triggering widespread flooding, landslides and transport disruptions. Rising water levels in the Indus and Chenab rivers also prompted fresh warnings as several areas faced low, medium and high-level flooding.

--Rivers rising--

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said the Indus River was experiencing low-level flooding at Tarbela, Kalabagh and Chashma. Medium-level flooding was reported at Marala, Khanki and Qadirabad on the Chenab River.

Water levels on the Chenab River continued to fluctuate. Authorities reported medium-level flooding at Head Khanki and high-level flooding at Head Qadirabad. Officials urged the public to avoid unnecessary visits to rivers, streams and flood protection embankments until conditions improve.

Authorities warned that water flowing through the Indus River could exceed 200,000 cusecs due to continuing heavy rainfall. Current measurements showed an inflow of 164,421 cusecs and a downstream discharge of 129,990 cusecs.

Narowal's Basantar stream was also flowing at a medium flood level, while low-level flooding was recorded at Ara Cantonment Bridge Naka One and medium-level flooding at Wazirabad Nala One.

--Kids killed in KP--

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two young brothers were killed when the roof of their home collapsed after heavy rain in the Akakhel, Meri Khel and Lalma areas of Bara. Their father was injured in the incident. The children were identified as Osama and Zaid Khan, members of the Zakha Khel tribe, while their injured father was identified as Ajar Habib.

--Skardu cut off--

Gilgit-Baltistan experienced some of the worst weather conditions as torrential rain caused rivers and streams to overflow. A landslide blocked the Hunza section of the Karakoram Highway, while floodwaters swept away a bridge at Parshingas. Skardu's road links with other cities were completely cut off.

Floodwater from the Kamango stream entered smaller channels in Kharmang before spreading into agricultural land and damaging crops. Flood conditions were also reported in Diamer, while a flood torrent entered residential areas in Tangir, affecting several homes, orchards and farmland. Roads in Thor and Khaner were damaged, bringing traffic to a standstill.

--Rain in Islamabad predicted--

Intermittent rain continued throughout the day in Islamabad, where the temperature remained at 23C and was expected to rise to 30C. Humidity exceeded 61%, and the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast that rainfall would continue until Saturday.

--Road sinkhole in Lahore--

Lahore also received intermittent light and heavy rain overnight and during the morning, bringing cooler weather to the city. The Meteorological Department said the maximum temperature was expected to reach 32C, while the minimum would remain around 27C. Winds of 11 kilometres per hour were forecast, with humidity expected to reach 88%.

Several rain-related incidents were reported across Lahore. In the Saggian area, the roof of a buffalo shed collapsed, injuring a 55-year-old man identified as Faryad Muhammad Alam. He was rescued from the debris and taken to hospital. Near Bobby Plaza on Band Road, another house roof collapsed, seriously injuring an 18-year-old woman, Maimoona, and an eight-year-old girl, Madiha. Rescue workers shifted both to Mian Munshi Hospital.

Elsewhere in Lahore, a large sinkhole formed near Qizilbash Chowk in the Ittihad Town area following heavy rainfall. A loaded dumper truck struck the road divider after its two front tyres burst. Traffic police immediately sealed off the affected area to ensure public safety.

-Roof collapse in Multan--

In Multan, a 55-year-old woman became trapped beneath the debris after the mud roof of an old house collapsed near Ghanta Ghar Chowk. Rescue 1122 personnel recovered her from the rubble and transported her to Nishtar Hospital for treatment.

--Narowal house hit by rain--

Heavy rain also caused the roof of a dilapidated house to collapse in Narowal, forcing a poor family to remain outdoors without shelter. The affected family appealed to the government for immediate assistance.

--Flood in DG Khan--

In Dera Ghazi Khan, powerful flood torrents flowing from the tribal areas inundated farmland, while streams descending from the Suleiman Mountains washed away embankments and cut off routes to several tribal communities.

Flood conditions also developed in Taunsa, Vehova, Raitra, Tibbi Qaisrani and surrounding areas, with low-lying neighbourhoods submerged.

Rescue teams evacuated hundreds of tourists, local residents, women and children to safer locations, while Border Military Police officers carried stranded travellers and their belongings across flooded areas.

--Heavy showers in Tharparkar desert--

Across Sindh, widespread rainfall was reported, including heavy showers in the Tharparkar desert. Rain also fell in Mithi and over the hills of Nangarparkar, improving weather conditions in the region. However, rainwater remained stagnant in Daharki more than 24 hours after the downpour.

--Cloudy Karachi--

Karachi remained partly cloudy on Friday, with the Meteorological Department forecasting light drizzle in some areas. The city's current temperature stood at 30C and was expected to reach a maximum of 36C during the day.

--Death toll rises in Balochistan--

The PDMA Balochistan has released its latest report on the impact of the monsoon season, confirming that eight people, including four children, have died while 16 others, including 13 children, have been injured in rain-related incidents across the province.

According to the report, the fatalities were caused by lightning strikes as well as the collapse of walls and roofs during heavy rainfall.

In Kohlu, a man and a woman lost their lives after being struck by lightning and in a separate wall collapse. In Khuzdar, a child and another person were killed in incidents involving a lightning strike and the collapse of a house roof.

In Zhob, three children and one adult died after lightning strikes and roof collapses. The district also recorded all 16 injuries, including 13 children and two women, following the collapse of several roofs during the severe weather.

The PDMA said that heavy rainfall and flash floods also caused extensive damage to residential property. A total of 41 houses were affected, with 17 completely destroyed and 24 sustaining partial damage in the districts of Khuzdar, Zhob, Harnai and Barkhan.

--28 people killed since July 19 in KP--

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) said on Friday that 28 people have died and 29 others have been injured since 19 July as heavy rain and flash floods continue to affect the province.

According to the PDMA, the deaths and injuries were caused mainly by the collapse of house roofs and walls during the severe weather.

The authority said those killed included 10 men, 15 children and three women. Among the injured were 13 men, nine women and seven children.

The PDMA also confirmed that the heavy rain and flash floods damaged a total of 47 houses across the province. Of these, 37 sustained partial damage, while 10 were completely destroyed.

Reporters: Jehanzaib Afridi, Hashir Waraich, Faran Yameen, Rimsha Ismail, Sherbaz Baloch, Yasir Arafat, Iqbal Sadiq, Isa Tareen and Ali Musa Raza