Key Points
- Monsoon-related incidents have claimed 190 lives nationwide
- Low-level flooding observed at Tarbela Dam, Chashma and Sukkur barrages
- Pakistan may witness additional monsoon spells
ISLAMABAD: Heavy monsoon rains across Pakistan’s Punjab province have killed 65 people and injured nearly 300 in the past 24 hours, bringing the countrywide death toll from the monsoon rains to at least 190 since late June, provincial officials said.
Rescue operations were underway on Friday in several districts of the province, with dozens still awaiting aid and evacuation.
Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a high flood warning for the Indus River at Kalabagh and Chashma.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Pakistan may witness five additional monsoon spells in the coming weeks, which could further raise water levels. The next spell is projected to occur from July 21 to July 28, with subsequent phases expected throughout August.
In the Mandi Bahauddin area of Punjab, rescue teams saved a trapped family from a powerful flash flood, while many others were relocated to safer areas. The District Jail in Mandi Bahauddin was submerged, prompting the transfer of inmates to another Jail. In Jhelum, around 500 people stranded by floodwaters were successfully evacuated.
In Sargodha, over 40 villages along the riverbanks were evacuated as water levels rose to dangerous heights. Moderate to low-level flooding was also reported at the Jinnah and Chashma barrages in Mianwali, where local authorities urged the public to avoid riverbanks for their safety.
Water took everything
In Rawalpindi, three of four individuals swept away by a flood channel were found dead, while the search continued for a missing child. Torrential rainfall—measuring 250 mm—caused severe flooding in low-lying areas, leading to widespread property damage and loss of personal belongings.
Many residents expressed frustration over the lack of immediate assistance, with some saying they were forced to break windows to save their children.
In Chakwal, a storm caused a house to collapse, killing a father and son and seriously injuring a woman. Heavy rain also damaged several homes, destroying walls and rooftops and compounding the devastation.
In Sargodha’s Miani area, rising river flow forced riverside communities to evacuate with their livestock, as water flooded homes, streets, and markets.
Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz, during a briefing at PDMA headquarters, said the casualties were the result of a natural disaster. She instructed authorities to ensure 100% drainage in Jhelum, Attock, and Chakwal by the end of the day, including low-lying and inner-city areas.
تمام ڈپٹی کمشنرز کو ہدایت کی گئی ہے کہ پرائیویٹ ہاؤسنگ سوسائٹیز کو واٹر پونڈنگ ختم کرنے کا پابند بنایا جائے،
انفراسٹرکچر اور فصلوں کے نقصانات کی فوری رپورٹ تیار کی جائے،بروقت انخلاء یقینی ہو،دفعہ 144 پر سختی سے عملدرآمد کرایا جائے۔— وزیراعلیٰ پنجاب مریم نواز pic.twitter.com/FKWHZZ52wC
— PMLN (@pmln_org) July 18, 2025
The CM also stressed the need for a more effective warning system and directed immediate preparations for the next expected rain spell on 21 July. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to swift response and protection for vulnerable communities.
More rains forecast
According to the Met Office, monsoon currents are currently penetrating Sindh and the upper parts of the country and likely to intensify in upper and central parts from July 20.
A fresh westerly wave is likely to approach the upper parts on July 21 under the influence of these meteorological conditions:
The public, travellers, and tourists are advised to avoid unnecessary exposure to vulnerable areas, stay alert, and remain updated on the latest weather conditions to prevent any untoward situation.
