[Today’s Prayer] 29 people die in two days due to 'belated' winter rain across Pakistan

The Associated Press reported on the 3rd (local time) that at least 29 people died and 50 were injured due to heavy winter rains that swept across Pakistan over the past two days.

Pakistani authorities issued a statement on this day, saying that heavy rain fell across the country for 48 hours since the night of the 29th of last month, causing some houses to collapse and landslides to occur, resulting in casualties.

In particular, about 23 people were reported to have died due to heavy rains in various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, in the northwestern province adjacent to Afghanistan.

Five people also died due to flooding in Gwadar, a port city in the southwestern province of Balochistan.

Heavy rain damage also occurred in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and some sections of the Karakoram Highway connecting Pakistan and China are also blocked by landslides.

Authorities have ordered tourists to avoid traveling to northern regions. Last week, some tourists were stranded in the scenic northern region due to heavy rain.

The authorities explained that the damage from the heavy rain this time was unusual, saying that winter rains, which would have arrived in November last year in a typical year, began in February.

In Pakistan, damage from monsoon and winter rains occurs every year.

From June to October 2022, most of the country was submerged due to unusually heavy monsoon rains and flooding, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,700 people and damage to more than 33 million people. About 8 million people had to evacuate elsewhere.

Source: Yonhap News

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

God, ruler of the world and the nations, we hear news of deaths due to heavy rain once again in Pakistan, which already suffered from floods two years ago.

This unusually heavy downpour swept across the country, causing casualties due to landslides and blocking transportation.

Lord, please have mercy on this nation.

Lord, let your light shine in the midst of the darkness of this land, and let them see your face in the light of your glory.

May you help the souls who are in pain and fear due to the disaster of another heavy rain resulting from the past flood, and allow them to become a nation that looks forward to the day when they will overcome this hardship and see the day of glory.