MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): One person was swept away while crossing a rainwater drain in the Padar area of Azad Kashmir’s Bagh district on Monday, according to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).
The situation report issued by SDMA said that a person, identified as Abdul Rehman, died by slipping while crossing the Nullah Mahal.
It said that the person was pulled out of the drain in an injured condition by locals, but he could not survive. “The body of the deceased person was handed over to his heirs,” said the SDMA.
Furthermore, the SDMA report stated that a landslide triggered by continuous rainfall has caused a potential threat to five houses at Zero Point in Muzaffarabad.
District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Muzaffarabad has shifted the inhabitants of affected houses to safer places, it said.
The SDMA further said that the Sharda to Kel Road is closed for traffic at Kel Seri due to a landslide. The machinery of the highway department is currently working to close the road.
Multiple other roads across Azad Kashmir, including Muzaffarabad-Kohala, Bagh to Rawalakot, and Poonch to Muzaffarabad, were cleared after they were blocked due to the rain-related incident.
Weather forecast
The State Disaster Management Authority further predicted widespread rain, wind, and thunderstorms in Azad Jammu & Kashmir for the next 24 hours.
A few heavy falls and isolated hailstorms are also likely during this period.
Earlier on Monday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast rainfall across the country from Wednesday, April 1 till Sunday, April 5.
In a weather forecast, the PMD said, “Due to a westerly wave approaching the south-western parts of Balochistan from April 1, parts of the country will receive ‘widespread rain-wind/thunderstorm’ in the coming days.”
Under the influence of the system, the PMD forecast rain along with snowfall over the mountains in Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur from April 1 to 5.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, it issued a similar forecast for Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Guanche, and Shigar.
