At least 70 people died in the last 48 hours as the relentless monsoon rains continue to wreak havoc in the province of Punjab in Pakistan, raising the number of deaths in general to 123 since the end of June, said Express News.
The Provincial Authority of Disaster Management (PDMA) confirmed the generalized damage due to ceiling collapses, landslides and sudden floods caused by heavy rains.
Read: Pindi affected by floods, sunk by waste, stench
At least 462 people have been injured since the beginning of the Monzonic spell on June 25, while several low areas remain flooded.
The greatest number of deaths was recorded on Friday, with 10 deaths reported by Lahore, Chinast, Okara, Chakwal and Sargodha.
Chinint and Lahore registered three deaths each, while Okara saw two and Chakwal and Sargodha reported a fatality each.
Read more: Merchants tell losses as the floods of devasto markets
Chakwal is still the worst district affected, where intense rain has caused severe landslides and floods in local currents, displacing residents and damaging houses.
The general director of PDMA, Irfan Ali Kathia, declared that more than 1,000 people have been rescued only from the Pothhahar region, including 450 from Rawalpindi, 398 of Jhelum and 209 of Chakwal.
The Department of Meteorology of Pakistan (PMD) warned that a new torrent rain spell is expected to begin from July 20.
Storms, sudden floods and landslides between Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Baluchistan, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are forecast.
Also read: Severo monsoon forecast triggers red alerts in several provinces
High flood levels are expected in the Indo River in Kalabagh and Chashma, which leads the authorities to issue high alerts and urge local administrations to implement emergency plans.
District governments have received instructions to remain waiting, issue early warnings and prepare shelters for residents in vulnerable regions.
