Lahore, Pakistan — Torrential monsoon rains have wreaked havoc across Pakistan’s Punjab province, killing 65 people and injuring nearly 300 within the past 24 hours, according to provincial officials. The new figures bring the nationwide death toll to at least 180 since the rains began in late June.
The relentless downpours on Thursday triggered widespread flooding and building collapses, with many deaths caused by the collapse of poorly constructed rooftops. Lahore, the provincial capital, reported 15 fatalities, while Faisalabad recorded nine. Several more deaths occurred in the towns of Okara, Sahiwal, and Pakpattan.
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In the southern regions, rescue teams deployed boats to evacuate families stranded along riversides. “Children were screaming for help, and women stood on rooftops, waving their shawls and begging to be rescued,” said Tariq Mehbood Bhatti, a farmer in Ladian village.
In Rawalpindi, adjacent to the capital Islamabad, authorities ordered immediate evacuations of low-lying areas after water levels in the Nullah Lai River surged. A public holiday was declared to keep residents indoors as small dams burst, flooding nearby areas. Military helicopters were dispatched for rescue operations.
“Pakistan has seen devastating floods over the last few years. This monsoon season is no different,” said disaster management official Hyder, warning of increasingly extreme weather events in the years ahead due to climate change.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), since late June, 103 people have died and 393 have been injured in Punjab alone. The rains have damaged over 120 homes and killed six livestock animals.
A high flood alert has been issued for the Jhelum River near the northern town of Mangla, where water inflows are expected to surge. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has also warned that nearby streams may overflow in the next 24 hours, threatening surrounding communities.
While monsoon rains are vital for agriculture and water reserves in South Asia, their destructive effects have intensified in recent years due to rapid urbanization, inadequate drainage infrastructure, and climate-induced weather extremes.
Authorities remain on high alert as more rainfall is forecast in the coming days.
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