Pakistan Monsoon Update: Death Toll Climbs

The monsoon season’s devastating impact in Pakistan has resulted in 221 fatalities, as reported on Tuesday by the nation’s disaster management authority. Recent heavy downpours have triggered severe flash floods, landslides, and lightning, particularly affecting mountainous regions.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that recent incidents have caused additional casualties, including two adult males and three children, along with ten individuals sustaining injuries due to rain-related events.

Impact Overview

This monsoon season, accidents caused by significant rainfall have led to injuries for 592 individuals, consisting of 77 men, 40 women, and 104 children. Punjab is the most severely impacted province, reporting 135 deaths and 470 injuries.

  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 40 deaths, 69 injuries
  • Sindh: 22 deaths, 40 injuries
  • Balochistan: 16 deaths
  • Azad Kashmir: 1 death, 6 injuries
  • Gilgit-Baltistan: 3 non-fatal injuries
  • Islamabad: 1 death

The majority of deaths resulted from building collapses, drowning incidents, landslides, flash floods, lightning strikes, and electrocution.

Property Damage

The NDMA stated that 25 residences collapsed in the past 24 hours, with five animals also perishing. Since the monsoon began, 804 houses have faced damage or destruction, and the livestock losses have reached 200.

  • Punjab: 168 partially damaged homes
  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 142 partially damaged, 78 fully collapsed homes
  • Sindh: 54 partially, 33 fully collapsed homes
  • Balochistan: 56 partially damaged, 8 destroyed homes
  • Gilgit-Baltistan: 71 partially damaged, 66 completely destroyed homes
  • Azad Kashmir: 75 partially damaged, 17 fully destroyed homes
  • Islamabad: 35 partial collapses, 1 full collapse

Flood Emergency

Authorities have issued warnings about a flood emergency in Babusar. Intense rainfall has led to flash floods and landslides within a 7-8 km radius of Babusar Top. Approximately 14 to 15 routes are currently impassable, and tourists who were stranded have been safely evacuated to Chilas.

Rescue and relief operations are underway. Given the forecast for continued rainfall, disaster management authorities are urging residents, especially those in areas prone to flooding, to exercise caution.

Monsoon rains are a typical feature of South Asia’s climate, crucial for agriculture and maintaining water reserves.

However, the negative effects have worsened in recent years due to increasing urbanization, inadequate drainage infrastructure, and a rise in severe weather incidents linked to changes in the climate.