More than 500 people killed, thousands of homes destroyed as record-breaking rains hit Pakistan

Since the monsoon rains started in mid-June, heavy rains and ensuing flooding have killed at least 502 people and destroyed thousands of houses throughout Pakistan.

• National rainfall for the month of July 2022 was largely (+181%) above average and stands as the record wettest July since 1961.
• July 2022 monthly rainfall alone exceeded the total normal monsoon seasonal rainfall by 26%.
• July 2022 rainfall was excessively above average over Balochistan (+450%) & Sindh (+308%), both
  ranking as the wettest ever during the past 62 years.
• The torrential rain caused massive flash floods in Balochistan, Sindh and southwest Punjab, inflicting huge loss of human lives and properties.
• The national mean monthly temperature of July 2022 for Pakistan as a whole was 29.93 °C (85.87 °F), being 1.34 °C (2.4 °F) cooler than the average of 31.27 °C (88.26 °F).

The death toll in Balochistan—the worst affected province, has already reached 150, with 15 fatalities confirmed in the previous 24 hours, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)^.1

Several regions of Balochistan continued to be pummeled by the severe rain, which destroyed homes, roads, and bridges, wiped off crops, and swept away cattle. Recent fatalities were recorded in the Balochistan regions of Zhob, Qilla Saifullah, Kohlu, Naushki, and Lasbela, which experienced flash floods.

The military, navy, and air force of the nation mobilized their soldiers and assets to aid with civilian rescue efforts, rescuing thousands of trapped individuals and providing food and relief supplies to families. During the flood relief operation on August 1, a Pakistani army helicopter crashed in the Lasbela district of Balochistan, killing all six aboard.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), moderate monsoon currents are now approaching eastern Sindh.

“Under the influence of this weather system, rains and thunderstorms with a few moderate and isolated heavy falls are expected in Tharparker, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Tando Muhammad khan, Tando Allayar, Hyderabad, Matiari, Thatta, Sujawal, Sanghar, Shaheed Benazirabad, Khairpur, Sukkur, Larkana, Ghotki, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Dadu, Jamshoro and Kambar Shahdadkot districts from August 5 to August 9.”²

The country experienced record rains in July, with national rainfall 181% above normal, making it the wettest July since 1961.³

July 2022 rainfall was excessively above average over Balochistan (+450%) & Sindh (+308%), both ranking as the wettest ever during the past 62 years.

Monthly rainfall was largely above average over Punjab (+116%) which stood second as the wettest month, above average over GB (+32%) & KP (+30%), and nearly average over AJK (-7%).

The wettest day of the month in the country was July 25, when Badin (Sindh) recorded 219 mm (8.62 inches) rainfall, whereas the wettest place with the highest monthly total of 606.0 mm (23.8 inches) was PAF Masroor, Karachi.

Other locations that received significant monthly precipitation were Islamabad Airport with 573.3 mm (22.57 inches), Padidan with 535.4 mm (21.08 inches), Gujranwala with 494 mm (19.44 inches), Islamabad (old airport) with 481.9 mm (18.97 inches), Takht-i-Bahi with 456.2 mm (17.96 inches), Islamabad Zero Point with 449 mm (17.67 inches), Gujrat with 424 mm (16.69 inches), Sialkot Cantt with 423.1 mm (16.65 inches), Lasbela with 404.7 mm (15.93 inches), Mangla with 391.2 mm (15.4 inches), Jhelum with 383.7 mm (15.10 inches), Chakwal with 383.6 mm (15.10 inches), Kotli with 360 mm (14.17 inches), Murree with 356 mm (14.01 inches), and Sialkot airport and Balakot with 352.4 mm (13.87 inches).

The Chilas and Nokkundi were the only two stations that remained dry with no rain at all during the month.

References:

¹ 500 killed in floods in Pakistan, more rains predicted in Sindh – Gulf News -August 3, 2022

² Country sees 180pc more rains in wettest July since 1961 – Dawn – August 4, 2022

³ Pakistan’s Monthly Climate Summary – PMD – July 2022

Featured image credit: PMD