Monsoon Rains Claim Over 200 Lives in Pakistan

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the monsoon season, which began in late June, has tragically resulted in the deaths of more than 200 individuals across Pakistan. This figure includes 96 children.

Official statistics present a concerning situation, with Punjab province reporting 123 deaths. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has documented 40 fatalities, Sindh 21, Balochistan 16, and both Islamabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir have each reported one death.

The causes of these fatalities vary significantly. House collapses have led to at least 118 deaths, while flash floods caused 30. Other causes include drowning, lightning, electrocution, and landslides. The heavy rains have also left over 560 people injured, among them 182 children.

Rawalpindi Hit Hard by Flash Floods

In Rawalpindi, severe flash floods inundated homes, streets, and commercial areas, causing extensive damage in neighborhoods like Dhamial, Hathi Chowk, and Morgah.

Water levels in areas such as Tench Bhata and Fauji Colony rose dramatically, reaching rooftop levels in certain locations. This forced residents to evacuate their homes, abandoning their possessions.

Tragically, eight-year-old Hasan Ali was among the victims. His father expressed the family’s devastation at his sudden passing.

Faisalabad Experiences Widespread Damage

Faisalabad has also suffered significant destruction, with 11 fatalities and 60 injuries reported across 33 incidents in just two days. Most deaths were due to the collapse of structurally unsound buildings. Many affected families reported insufficient funds to repair their homes before the monsoon season began.

Infrastructure Damage and Rescue Efforts

Significant infrastructure damage has occurred throughout Punjab due to heavy rainfall and landslides. In Chakwal, at least 32 roads were destroyed after receiving over 450mm of rainfall.

Nearby villages like Khewal experienced multiple house collapses, resulting in fatalities, including a father and his son. Communication lines remain disrupted, and power has not been restored to numerous areas.

Currently, rescue and repair operations are in progress. Upon the chief minister’s directive, heavy machinery has been dispatched to clear blocked roads in Jhelum, Pind Dadan Khan, Kallar Kahar, and neighboring regions.

In Rawalpindi’s Karoli Dhoke Bridge area, urgent repairs were completed on a road damaged by rain, enabling the resumption of traffic.