Glacial lake outburst floods in Chitral and heavy rains in upper parts of the country causingriverine floods in Punjab is playing havoc with the lives and property of the affected communities.
Chitral
Till date about 300,000 people in Chitral are affected with three reported fatilities. According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), 29 villages are badly affected with damage to 29 drinking water supply schemes, 5 power houses, and 177 houses (145 fully destroyed and 32 partially). Several major roads and bridges have been badly damaged making areas in Upper Chitral, the Kalash Valley and Garam Chashma inaccessible. There are also reports of large losses to livestock, public and private property, and agricultural land and crops.
Gilgit Baltistan
Heavy rains, rapid melting of snow due to warm weather and outbursts from glacial lakes have caused flooding in the Astore, Diamer, Ghanche, Ghizer, Giltgit, Hunza Nagar and Skardu Districts of Gilgit Baltistan. In Gilgit District, police reports indicate that the Ghanche River changed its course to run through a village. There are two reported fatalities from Talas village, Diamer District. There has been major damage to roads, water channels, power houses and bridges in Hunza Nagar and Skardu Districts, and a medium level of damage in Astore, Diamer and Gilgit, Districts. Floods have damaged 166 houses with a medium level of damage to land, crops and trees. The areas of Buner, Niat and Fairy Meadows in Daimer, and Hisper in Hunza, Nagar remain inaccessible due to damaged roads and bridges.
Punjab
According to reports from district authorities and in the media, more than 197 villages have been inundated in the Layyah (71), Muzaffargarh (10), Rajanpur (116) Districts of Punjab due to the rising level of the Indus River. All affected villages are situated close to the river and are normally evacuated due to rising water levels. District authorities have facilitated the evacuation of affected people with no fatalities reported. The flood waters have caused significant damage to standing crops including to an estimated 40,000 acres in Layyah and 35,000 acres in Rajanpur.
Balochistan
According to reports from PDMA Balochistan, heavy rainfall and windstorms have damaged 106 houses in Zhob, Dera Bugti and Kohlu Districts. Three children have died and six persons injured in different rain and flood related incidents. Flash floods have damaged electricity lines, water supply lines, roads and bridges, and public and private infrastructures. There are also reports of flooding in Barkhan, Harnai, Musakhel and Killa Saifullah Districts but so far no information of damages have been received.
