The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has estimated that this year, the country has received its highest level of rainfall in the last thirty years. According to the Climate Change Ministry, the country has received so far more than 780% above average rainfall. With respect to this, Sindh and Balochistan are considered to get the highest rainfall, 508% and 450% respectively. The increase in average rainfall is followed by Punjab (116%), KP (52%), and AJK (3%).The days-long downpour turned into flash floods that have brought devastation across the country. Several districts have been submerged and impacted millions of people. It has adversely affected the entire country with Sindh and Balochistan experiencing the highest disastrous impacts.The floods have affected around 360,000 people, causing damage to more than 26,897 houses in Balochistan. In addition, 34 districts of the province have been declared under emergency including Lasbela, Jhal Magsi, Killa Saifullah, Pishin, Noshki, Kachhi, Khuzdar, Kalat, and Chaman. However, the ravaging monsoon season has brought massive damage to Sindh causing hundreds of deaths and destroying thousands of houses. All 17 districts of Sindh are critically affected with 2,281KM of damaged roads and 45 collapsed bridges. Around 2,263,777 people in Sindh have been severely affected and 368,233 have lost their homes.The disastrous impact of the torrential rainfall can be reduced with the right policies and governance. Constructing floods through dams has proved to be helpful in such calamity. In addition, proper urban planning or zoning of land use can reduce the infrastructure loss. Furthermore, an efficient flood alarm system is needed in such conditions. Considering the ongoing situation, the country needs to improve its drainage system to release flood water.
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