Over 300 killed in Pakistan after heavy rains, flash floods

The National Disaster Management Authority confirmed the
death toll Saturday morning, noting that figures could rise.

The agency said the majority of the deaths were recorded in
the mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Most were killed in flash floods and collapsing houses,
while 21 others were injured.

Scores of people remain missing.

It is one of the deadliest spells of the monsoon season in
the Asian country—a period of intense rainfall caused by a seasonal shift in
wind patterns.

Landslides and flash floods are common during the season,
which usually begins in June and eases by the end of September.

But experts said the intensity and frequency of these events
are increasing due to climate change.

The country’s meteorological department issued a heavy rain
alert for the north-west region for the next few hours, urging people to take
“precautionary measures”.

Parts of neighbouring India and Nepal have also been hit
hard by heavy rains, flooding and other rain-related incidents over the past
week.

Ishaq Dar, deputy prime minister and foreign minister, said
civilian and military teams are carrying out rescue and relief operations.

Dar condoled with the families of victims killed in the
flood and empathised with the injured.