With monsoon rains battering various parts of Pakistan, the country faces increased vulnerability to flash floods and landslides, particularly in mountainous and hilly regions. These natural disasters pose a recurring threat to lives, infrastructure, and livelihoods — often with devastating consequences.
What Are Flash Floods?
Flash floods are sudden, rapid floods usually caused by intense rainfall over a short period, especially in areas with poor drainage or dry soil that can’t absorb water quickly. They can also result from:
- Glacial lake outbursts
- Dam breaks
- Overflowing rivers due to blocked waterways
Flash floods can occur within minutes to a few hours of heavy rain and are extremely dangerous due to their speed and unpredictability.
What Causes Landslides?
Landslides involve the downward movement of rock, earth, or debris on a slope. In Pakistan, common causes include:
- Heavy rainfall that saturates soil
- Deforestation weakening slope stability
- Earthquakes and tremors
- Human activities such as construction and road-cutting on unstable terrain
Regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir are particularly prone to landslides during monsoon season.
Why Are These Disasters So Common in Pakistan?
Pakistan’s diverse geography, from mountains to deserts, combined with climate change, has increased the frequency and severity of such events. Contributing factors include:
- Rapid urbanization without proper planning
- Illegal logging and poor land management
- Climate-induced erratic rainfall patterns
- Glacial melting in the north triggering water surges
How Can We Prevent or Mitigate the Damage?
Experts suggest the following measures:
- Early warning systems and real-time weather monitoring
- Tree plantation and slope stabilization efforts
- Community awareness campaigns
- Zoning laws that restrict construction in high-risk areas
- Investment in climate-resilient infrastructure
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