ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s disaster management authority on Tuesday issued a high alert for flash floods, urban flooding and landslides across the country till July 24, as intensified monsoon rains continued to batter several regions.
At least 12 people were killed in rain-related incidents in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province over the past 24 hours, raising the nationwide death toll from the ongoing monsoon season to at least 53.
In an advisory, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned that a strong monsoon system, combined with an approaching westerly wave, is likely to trigger widespread rainfall, with isolated heavy to very heavy downpours, across Gilgit-Baltistan, KP, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and northeastern Balochistan.
The weather system is expected to significantly increase the risk of flash floods in rivers, hill torrents and seasonal streams.
Major rivers remain within normal limits, while monsoon rains continue across upper catchments. PMD is closely monitoring rainfall and river flows and will issue timely updates as conditions evolve.#PMD #FloodUpdate #Monsoon2026 #PakistanWeather #FloodBulletin #RiverFlows pic.twitter.com/Vre8nPINqt
— Pak Met Department محکمہ موسمیات (@pmdgov) July 21, 2026
Flood risks rise as heavy rains batter major regions
“A strong monsoon incursion interacting with an approaching westerly wave is expected to affect the catchments of all major rivers during July 20-24,” the NDMA said in an alert.
The NDMA warned that the weather system could cause rapid rises in river levels, triggering flash floods in hill torrents and seasonal streams, while also increasing the risk of urban flooding in low-lying areas.
Major rivers remain within normal limits, while monsoon rains continue across upper catchments. PMD is closely monitoring rainfall and river flows and will issue timely updates as conditions evolve.#PMD #FloodUpdate #Monsoon2026 #PakistanWeather #FloodBulletin #RiverFlows pic.twitter.com/RVFEwZrtN6
— Pak Met Department محکمہ موسمیات (@pmdgov) July 21, 2026
The authority forecast high flood levels in the Chenab River at Marala and the Jhelum River upstream of Mangla. It also cautioned that water flows in the Ravi and Sutlej rivers could rise further depending on upstream releases from India’s Thein, Pong and Bhakra reservoirs.
Last year’s monsoon season brought widespread riverine flooding across parts of Punjab, Pakistan’s agricultural heartland, where heavy rainfall and elevated river flows inundated farmland, damaged infrastructure and displaced communities.
The NDMA also issued urban flood alerts for Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Khushab, Sialkot, Gujrat, Narowal, Lahore, Okara, Chakwal and Attock. Separately, it warned of landslides in parts of Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan between July 21 and July 23, with key mountain roads at risk of rockfalls and debris flows.
🌧️ PMD Weather Update | 21 July, 2026
Widespread rain-wind/thundershowers are expected over KP, Kashmir, Islamabad, Punjab, NE Balochistan & GB. Isolated heavy to very heavy falls may trigger flash flooding, urban flooding & landslides. Stay updated with PMD.#PMD #WeatherAlert pic.twitter.com/PCc88IsSQV— Pak Met Department محکمہ موسمیات (@pmdgov) July 21, 2026
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reports fresh deaths and damage
The advisory comes as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the province worst affected by this year’s monsoon season, continues to report fresh casualties and damage following heavy rains that lashed the region late Monday.
“The deceased included six men, five children and one woman,” the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said in a statement issued late Monday, adding that 14 people were injured and 14 houses were damaged, including one that was completely destroyed.
Provincial authorities said the latest spell of heavy rain damaged homes across several districts, including Peshawar, Khyber, Mardan, Buner, Bajaur, Lower Chitral, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Tor Ghar and Kurram. The fresh casualties raised Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s monsoon death toll to 35 since the season began in late June.
Earlier on Monday, the NDMA’s daily situation report, covering the period up to 1:00 p.m., put the nationwide monsoon death toll at 47, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accounting for the highest number of fatalities among all provinces. The latest deaths reported by provincial authorities have since pushed the national toll to at least 53.
