Pakistan is reeling under a wave of destruction brought on by torrential monsoon rains and flash floods that have left over 200 dead and hundreds more injured across the country. The disaster has triggered landslides, structural collapses, electrocutions and widespread dislocation, further underlining the nation's chronic vulnerability to climate-linked catastrophes.
Since late June, extreme weather has battered vast swathes of the country, with children accounting for nearly half of the fatalities, according to data released by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Over 560 people have been injured, including at least 182 children.
According to reports, Punjab province bore the heaviest toll with 123 deaths, followed by 40 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 21 in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan, and one each in Islamabad and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Of the total deaths, 118 resulted from collapsing buildings, 30 from flash floods, and the rest from drowning, electrocution, lightning strikes, and landslides. The human toll has been compounded by a massive disruption to infrastructure, power supply and transport networks.
In Rawalpindi, heavy rainfall triggered flash floods that surged through streets and residential areas, submerging homes and marketplaces up to rooftop height. Many families were forced to flee without their belongings.
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Faisalabad recorded 11 deaths and 60 injuries over two days, mostly linked to structural collapses. In Chakwal, more than 32 roads were reportedly washed away after rainfall exceeded 450mm, crippling transport and emergency response.
The United Nations has expressed concern about the rising risk of glacier lake outburst floods in the mountainous regions of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where melting ice masses threaten sudden surges downstream.
Communication lines and electricity remain disrupted across several affected regions, exacerbating the impact on already distressed communities. Emergency teams are struggling to reach remote villages that have been cut off due to washed-away roads and landslides.
In a statement, a UN News report described the deluge as yet another stark reminder of Pakistan’s susceptibility to climate-induced disasters. “Pakistan regularly experiences monsoon-related flooding from June to September, leading to fatalities, infrastructure losses, and displacement, particularly in areas with poor drainage and high population density,” it said.
Authorities in Punjab declared a “rain emergency” earlier this week as 63 deaths were recorded in a single day. Inmates from a flooded prison were also relocated as jails and hospitals reported waterlogging.
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