Monsoon Rains
LAHORE: Pakistan has recorded an alarming 73% increase in monsoon rainfall in 2025, highlighting the country’s mounting vulnerability to climate-induced disasters, according to a statement issued by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab.
On Tuesday, PDMA Punjab Director General Irfan Ali Kathiya confirmed that the province received significantly more rainfall than the seasonal average. “This year, the monsoon rains in Punjab have exceeded expectations, with 73% more precipitation than usual,” Kathiya stated. “As a direct consequence, 165 lives have been lost so far.”
The fatalities, he said, were mainly caused by lightning strikes, electrocution, and drowning incidents triggered by flash floods and poor drainage infrastructure. He further cautioned that the situation may worsen in the coming days, as weather forecasts indicate four to five additional rain spells ahead.
Authorities have been placed on high alert, especially in flood-prone urban areas like Lahore, where the risk of urban flooding has risen sharply due to the intensified rainfall. Emergency protocols have been activated, and local administrations have been instructed to stay vigilant and ensure timely response measures.
Kathiya assured that the Punjab government is extending support to the families of the deceased in accordance with its disaster relief policy. “Compensation and relief assistance will be provided under established procedures,” he said.
In a related development, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) released updated nationwide statistics, revealing that 221 people have died and over 500 have been injured in rain-related incidents across the country since June 26.
Among the dead are 104 children and 40 women, while five more deaths—two men and three children—were reported in the last 24 hours alone. Additionally, the NDMA confirmed that over 800 houses have been completely destroyed by the relentless rains.
Disaster management officials are urging citizens to avoid low-lying areas, remain indoors during thunderstorms, and heed official weather advisories.
