Monsoon rains claim 77 lives in country: Sherry Rehman

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman on Wednesday said the country had received 87% above normal rainfall during the prevailing monsoon season whereas the death toll due to heavy rains had surged to 77 since June 14.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, she said this indeed is a national tragedy. She said the most number of thirty-nine deaths have been reported in Balochistan.

Sherry Rehman said that the monsoon and pre-monsoon events were going on alongwith continuous environmental incidents taking place across the country.

“Pakistan has become the sixth most affected country due to climate change whereas the Prime Minister also directed to focus climate change events. Media is also requested to sensitise masses on precautionary measures during the monsoon disasters,” she said.

The pre-monsoon started in June that received more precipitation and there were 16 glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) events recorded this season due to extreme heatwave which were previously only 5-6 events on average, the minister said.

She added that the casualty count had jumped up from 68 in the morning to 77 in the afternoon from June 14 till date after the onset of monsoon season.

The Minister for Climate Change said National Disaster Management Authority has prepared national monsoon contingency plan. She said the provinces, districts and the people have to stay alert to reduce causalities as a result of monsoon rains.

She also commended the efforts of provincial disaster management authorities (PDMAs) and NDMA saying, “PDMAs and NDMA did a great job in ensuring monsoon preparedness.”