Pakistan Weather: April’s Deadly Storms Impact

At least 143 individuals lost their lives in Pakistan due to lightning strikes and other storm-related incidents in April, a month that witnessed more than double the average rainfall, officials disclosed on Tuesday.

The surge in precipitation, soaring by 164 per cent above the usual levels, resulted in flash floods, landslides, and destructive weather, leading to collapsed houses and damaged crops across the nation.

Attributing the erratic weather patterns directly to climate change, Zaheer Ahmad Babar, spokesperson for the Pakistan Meteorological Department. He emphasized the country’s increasing vulnerability to unpredictable weather events.

The highest toll of casualties occurred in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, claiming 83 lives, including 38 children, and causing damage to over 3,500 homes. Roof collapses and landslides were cited as the primary causes by Anwar Shahzad, spokesman for the province’s disaster management authority.

In parts of northern Punjab, hailstorms wreaked havoc on wheat harvests, necessitating adjustments in agriculture calendars, according to environmental expert Maryam Shabbir Abbasi.

Reports earlier this month highlighted fatalities, including farmers harvesting wheat, due to lightning strikes in Punjab, with a total of 21 casualties recorded in rain-related incidents.

Meanwhile, Balochistan reported 21 deaths, including seven from lightning strikes, as rain disrupted life and led to school closures in certain districts.

In Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), 14 fatalities were reported, with an additional four deaths in Sindh province linked to road accidents amid floods.

The memories of the devastating 2022 monsoon season, which submerged a third of Pakistan and incurred massive economic losses, remain fresh as the country grapples with the aftermath of heavy rains.

Despite the rainfall, Karachi, the largest city, experienced scorching temperatures, reaching 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit) on Sunday, underscoring the varied challenges posed by Pakistan’s changing climate patterns.