Several areas of Balochistan were flooded following heavy rains over the past few days, while the Makran coastal highway, which connects the deep sea port of Gwadar to Karachi, was rendered impassable due to flooding.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that in the past 24 hours, Gwadar has received an average of 80 millitres (mm) of rain. In Ormara, 77mm of rain was recorded, 66 in Pasni, and 40 in Jiwani. In the provincial capital Quetta, 12mm of rain was recorded, 15 in Panjgur, 11 in Kalat and Turbat, five each in Khuzdar, Naukandi, and Zhob, four in Dalbandin, and three in Lasbela.
Due to flooding, the bridge over the Basol Stream was washed away, the Makran coastal highway was shut down in two places, and the land connection with Karachi was cut.
Flooding was also reported from the rural areas of Ormara.
The PMD has warned that the storm system currently impacting the coastal areas of Balochistan could move northeast towards Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.
At least eight people have been killed so far in Balochistan, including seven who died after being struck by lightning.
Double average rains
April has brought unexpected rains and weather events in Pakistan, with snow in the northwestern tourist destination of Chitral, hail in the plain areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and rains across the country. The unexpected weather events have triggered flash floods, which have thus far claimed as many as 65 lives (including 28 lives caused by lightning strikes).
Most of the deaths were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 32 people have died, including 15 children. At the same time, over 1,300 homes have been damaged due to flooding and hill torrents.
Rains thus far in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have exceeded records for April over the past 30 years. Several parts of the province have faced flooding with the latest warning from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warning of overflow in the Kabul River at Nowshera and in its tributaries.
In neighbouring Punjab, at least 21 farmers were killed by lightning strikes in fields.
In Sindh, flooding-related incidents claimed at least four lives.