Islamabad, Aug 4 || Torrential monsoon rains have wreaked havoc across Pakistan, claiming at least 299 lives, including 140 children, and leaving 715 others injured since June 26, according to the latest data released by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Additionally, 715 others, among them 239 children, 204 women and 272 men, were injured in rain-triggered incidents, local media reported on Monday.
Meanwhile, a total of 1,676 houses were damaged and 428 livestock were lost in the flash floods and heavy rains, which have caused widespread destruction across several regions, dealing a heavy blow to the local communities.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted a wet spell for the country's upper and central regions, with weak monsoon currents expected to intensify on Monday and a strong westerly wave on Tuesday, reported.
According to the PMD's National Weather Forecasting Centre, rain-wind accompanied by thundershowers and isolated heavy downpours are expected in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK); Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB), Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Punjab, and Islamabad until Thursday.
“More rains with wind-thundershower predicted in upcoming week.Weak monsoon currents are continuously penetrating in upper/central parts of the country and is likely to intensify from August 4. A westerly wave is likely to strengthen on August 5,” it stated.