PESHAWAR: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority on Monday forecasted more rains couple with windstorm from Tuesday (today) and continuing till Sunday as the death toll from the recent downpour and windstorm in southern districts climbed to 29.

According to the PDMA data, one death each was reported from Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan, increasing the toll in the former to 16 and to three in the latter.

Five persons each have been killed in Lakki Marwat and Karak districts.

The number of injured persons has also increased to 150, and damaged houses to 160.

Meanwhile, lightning killed a person in Lower Dir.

According to an advisory issued by PDMA, wind-dust-thunderstorm coupled with rain with isolated heavy falls and hailstorm is expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from June 13 to 18. The advisory has been dispatched to the deputy commissioners across the province.

“The Pakistan Meteorological Department has informed that a westerly wave is also likely to enter the upper parts of the country,” the advisory said.

Under the influence of this weather system, wind-dust-thunderstorm coupled with isolated heavy falls and hailstorm is expected from Tuesday in Chitral, Lower and Upper Dir, Malakand, Buner, Swat, Shangla, Kohistan, Torghar, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Swabi, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Charsadda, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Hangu, Orakzai, Kohat, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, DI Khan, North and South Waziristan districts.

The stormy weather may cause damage to lose structures and standing crops, so farmers are advised to remain cautions during the forecast period. The general public has also been advised to stay at safe places during the dust-wind-thunderstorm.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2023