RAWALPINDI/SIALKOT/MUZAFFARABAD: Over a dozen people were killed and many others were injured on Friday as torrential rains wreaked havoc in northeastern Punjab and Azad Kashmir and prompted a landslide in Gilgit-Baltistan, taking the death toll from the heavy downpour to at least 86.

Flash floods have inundated villages, prompting authorities to send troops to evacuate residents and assist in the emergency. Most of the deaths were caused by roof collapses, landslides and electric shocks.

A number of cities received over 130mm of rain. Pakistan's meteorological office issued a severe weather warning for northeast Punjab and Kashmir, saying more intense rain was expected which could trigger flash flooding.

Pakistan regularly suffers from flooding during the monsoon season. In 2010, flash floods killed 1,700 people. In 2013, 178 people were killed and around 1.5 million affected by flooding.

Death toll mounts

The latest five deaths reported from Rawalpindi occurred when three men died when the wall of a house collapsed; a child drowned near Fauji Colony; a resident died from mud-slides near Rawalpindi High Court.

The deaths in Sialkot took place in the Pasroor area where three members of a family died when the roof of their house caved in.

A woman died, while nine, including eight children, were injured as the roof of a mud-built house collapsed in Lahore’s Shahidrah area.

A total of 14 deaths have occurred in Azad Kashmir with 40 injured in rain-related incidents, Fata Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) told Dawn. FDMA Secretary Akram Sohail said at least 300 houses have been damaged due to torrential rains.

Meanwhile, eight of a family were killed in a landslide triggered by heavy rains in the Diamer area of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The eight were inside their home when the landslide buried them.

Rescue personnel were trying to clear the rubble and recover any survivors.

Over 90 were also reported injured as torrential rain wreaked havoc across Punjab and Azad Kashmir, causing a very high flood in river Chenab.

Due to a low-level flood in river Jhelum and danger of flooding in rivers by heavy rains, locals residing near rivers have been issued alerts by the district administration to evacuate their homes.

More on this: Sialkot receives the highest rain in 30 years

A view of collapsed rooftop of a house that caved in due to rains. — Photo by INP

Army soldier drowns during rescue

A Pakistan army soldier drowned in Sialkot during an operation to rescue those trapped in parts of the district following heavy rains.

Teams from the army are engaged in rescue operations in Punjab and Azad Kashmir where it is making use of helicopters and boats to rescue those who have been left stranded and trapped following the torrential rains.

Schools to remain closed

Schools will remain closed tomorrow in Lahore and other affected districts of the province, Punjab education department said.

Rawalpindi’s ‘Nullah Lea’ reaches breaking point

Water flow in Rawalpindi’s ‘Nullah Lea’ breached the 17 feel limit early on Friday.

The administration issued an alert, and sought the army’s help. Administration authorities also started evacuation of people residing at vulnerable spots near Nullah Lea.

Rawal Dam spillways opened

The spillways of Rawal Dam were opened today as water in the reservoir reached maximum capacity due to the ongoing heavy downpour.

The released water flowed towards adjacent areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi causing large scale damage. At least 10 houses were completely destroyed. The Pakistan Army assisted in rescuing at least 70 people from flooded areas.

Rescue teams were dispatched to the affected areas on the orders of Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Abdul Sattar.

Crisis in Indian Kashmir

The death toll from severe flooding in Indian-controlled Kashmir has also risen to at least 28, as authorities asked for help from federal rescue officials today as relentless rains continue to lash much of the Himalayan region, forcing thousands to abandon their homes in search of shelter.

Power and telephone links have been snapped in many areas and supplies of clean drinking water have been hit, officials said.

Soldiers and rescue workers used boats to move thousands of people to higher ground.

Breakdown of Thursday’s deaths

Sixteen people, three women among them, were killed in Lahore as rain levelled houses in different areas of the city. Five people were killed in Faisalabad, six in Gujranwala, five in Sialkot, four in Kasur, three in Khanewal, two in Okara and one in Sheikhupura when roofs of their houses collapsed. The deaths in Kasur were caused by electrocution.

In Chakwal, the death toll has been put at 40 after a pull at the Jhelum River had collapsed. All the fatalities occurred due to drowning.

In Azad Kashmir, three soldiers and seven civilians were killed in landslides and flash floods which ravaged the mountainous region.

Meanwhile, in Muzzaffargadh, the district government has set up 11 relief camps to accommodate flood victims as the water level in the River Chenab is rising and riverine areas has been put on high alert.

The heavy rains spell has been generated by the first well-marked low pressure of the monsoon season that is moving towards Pakistan via Indian Rajasthan. Also, a day earlier in its warning, the Pakistan Meteorological Department Flood Forecasting Bureau in Lahore said the low pressure was likely to move to Pakistan in “the next 24 hours”.

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