Heavy Monsoon Rains Cause Devastation Across Pakistan, Over 880 Dead and Thousands Displaced
Since late June, Pakistan has faced relentless monsoon rains leading to severe flooding and destruction. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), at least 883 people have lost their lives, and nearly 1,200 others are injured due to the heavy rainfall.
Tragically, just in recent days, two children have died in incidents triggered by the rains — one in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and another in Islamabad, adding to the heartbreaking toll.
Nepal’s weather agency, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), has issued warnings of continued heavy rains across several regions over the next 12 to 24 hours. The worst-affected provinces are Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab, which have borne the brunt of the floods.
In KP, 488 people have died, and 360 are injured. Punjab reports 223 deaths and 648 injuries. Sindh has also seen 58 fatalities, while areas like Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, and Islamabad have experienced significant damage as well.
The floods have caused rivers to overflow dangerously. The River Sutlej in Punjab’s Ganda Singh Wala is at an exceptionally high flood level. Additionally, the River Chenab could see a “very high to exceptional” flood wave from Marala downstream, threatening thousands of acres of farmland and hundreds of villages.
Floodwaters are also rising at the confluence of the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers at Panjnad, where the threat of flooding is expected to increase between September 4 and 5. The Indus River at Guddu in Sindh is likely to reach high flood levels by September 6 or 7.
Heavy rains in northern catchments could also cause urban flooding in major cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, and Islamabad. Authorities have issued alerts for these areas and nearby regions such as Chitral, Dir, Swat, Buner, and Abbottabad.
Low-lying areas are at risk of flash floods and landslides, especially in hilly regions. Currently, floodwaters from the Chenab have submerged over 260 villages in Jhang and Muzaffargarh districts of Punjab.
The destruction caused by the floods is staggering. Over 9,200 houses have been damaged — including 4,700 in KP and 2,100 in PoK. More than 6,000 livestock animals have been swept away, and critical infrastructure like bridges and roads has also suffered heavy damage. Nearly 240 bridges and over 670 kilometers of roads have been destroyed across Pakistan.
The ongoing monsoon season continues to pose a serious threat to thousands of lives, homes, and farms. Authorities are warning residents to stay alert, especially in flood-prone and hilly areas, as Pakistan battles one of its worst monsoon disasters in years.
