ISLAMABAD: The monsoon havoc has claimed 13 more lives in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 216 across the country. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) stated that 13 more people have died in the past 24 hours due to rain and flood-related incidents.
The latest fatalities push the nationwide death toll to 216 since the start of the monsoon spell on June 26.
The relentless downpours have led to widespread flooding and structural collapses, with the majority of casualties resulting from the roofs of poorly constructed homes caving in.
About 12 casualties have been reported in Punjab and one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The victims included four children and three women, the NDMA said.
Punjab remains the hardest hit, with 135 fatalities, followed by 42 in KP, 21 in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan, and one each in Islamabad and Azad Kashmir. Alarmingly, 101 children have died during this monsoon season alone.
The NDMA attributed the fatalities to a range of hazards, including house collapses, flash floods, lightning strikes, drowning incidents, and landslides. The statement noted that families living in vulnerable or substandard structures had little chance of survival when the rains intensified.
So far, over 580 people have sustained injuries, including 20 on Saturday alone. The injured include 227 men, 163 women, and 192 children.
Nearly 800 homes have been completely destroyed, while close to 200 livestock have reportedly drowned in the floodwaters, adding to the losses faced by already vulnerable communities.
Rescue and relief operations are ongoing, but with more rain forecast in the coming days, authorities have urged citizens in low-lying and flood-prone areas to remain on high alert and take all necessary precautions.
While monsoon rains are vital for agriculture and water supply in South Asia, their destructive impact has intensified in recent years due to unchecked urban sprawl, poor drainage infrastructure, and an increase in climate change-driven extreme weather events.
Meanwhile, The Pothohar region was also among the worst-hit areas by the torrential rains which swept across the Punjab province on Thursday, triggering widespread flooding and prompting rescue operations by Pakistan Army personnel. More than 1,000 people were evacuated to safety, officials confirmed.
A rain emergency has been declared in Chakwal, Jhelum, and Rawalpindi, where the downpour caused rivers and drains to overflow, stranding residents in several low-lying areas. Helicopters were deployed as part of the emergency response to access areas cut off by floodwaters.
According to a spokesperson for the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), about 398 people were rescued in Jhelum alone, with 160 airlifted to safety. In Chakwal, 209 individuals were evacuated — 182 by local authorities and 27 via helicopter.
In Rawalpindi, the district administration moved 450 people to secure locations. Notably, six people trapped in Nala Lai were rescued by helicopter in a high-risk operation.
PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia praised the coordinated efforts, stating that no casualties had been reported due to the timely response. He urged citizens to remain alert, noting that above-normal rainfall is expected this monsoon season, with the fourth wave of rains beginning July 21.
Kathia advised the public to take precautionary measures and stay in safe areas, assuring that all available resources will be mobilized to protect lives and property during the ongoing monsoon.
