ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s disaster agency said on Monday that at least 111 people, including 53 children, have been killed in rain-related incidents across the country since the start of the monsoon season in late June.
Data from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) between June 26 and July 14 showed a total of 111 deaths, with the highest number reported from Punjab province. Electrocution was identified as the leading cause of death, followed by flash floods.
The disaster agency also reported that 211 persons were injured during this period, including 111 in Punjab, 54 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 7 in Sindh, 5 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and 4 in Balochistan.
One fatality was reported in AJK, while 17 people died in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan, 31 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 40 in Punjab.
In one incident in late June, at least 13 tourists were swept away by flash floods while taking shelter on a raised riverbank in Swat.
The monsoon rains, which began in Pakistan in the final week of June, have caused widespread damage and disruption across multiple regions.
Met Office forecasts heavy rainfall
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of a fresh spell of heavy rainfall beginning Monday, likely to intensify in the coming days.
In its advisory, the PMD said a low-pressure area currently located over northwest Madhya Pradesh in India is expected to impact Pakistan within the next 24 to 72 hours.
The weather department added that strong monsoon currents, combined with a westerly wave, are expected to affect the central and upper parts of the country.
“Scattered heavy falls, at times very heavy, are likely in Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Punjab, and northeastern Balochistan,” the PMD said.
The weather department warned that heavy downpours may lead to urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Nowshera, and Peshawar.
The Met Office further warned of the risk of landslides and mudslides in hilly areas, including Murree, Galliyat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, which could lead to road blockages and travel disruption.
The NDMA has directed provincial and district administrations to activate emergency response mechanisms, ensure the availability of rescue machinery, and clear drainage systems in vulnerable urban centres.
The disaster agency has also advised tourists to avoid high-altitude areas during the current period of heavy rainfall.
The monsoon season, which runs from June to September, brings 70 to 80 percent of South Asia’s annual rainfall and is vital for agriculture. However, it also brings risks of floods, landslides, and infrastructure collapse.
Pakistan, home to over 240 million people, remains one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
In 2022, record-breaking monsoon rains combined with accelerated glacial melt caused devastating floods that affected 33 million people and claimed over 1,700 lives. Many of the affected areas are still recovering from the destruction.
