ISLAMABAD: As many as 178 people have lost their lives across Pakistan due to torrential monsoon rains and related incidents, with Punjab emerging as the worst-affected province, official data revealed on Saturday.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 103 people have died in Punjab alone during the ongoing spell of heavy rains, most of them due to electrocution, roof collapses, and drowning incidents.
The total number of casualties nationwide now stands at 178, with hundreds more injured and widespread damage reported in both urban and rural areas.
In the past 24 hours, 12 more fatalities were recorded in Punjab. Six individuals lost their lives when residential roofs caved in, while five others were electrocuted amid rain-induced infrastructure failures.
A child also drowned in a rainwater drain in Hafizabad, officials confirmed.
In Lahore, a roof collapse near the city’s railway station killed two people. In Shahdara, a young man died due to electrocution after coming into contact with a live wire on a utility pole. Chiniot reported three fatalities, including women, due to two separate roof collapse incidents.
In Multan, Okara, and Khushab, one person each was killed by electric shocks, while in Hafizabad, a child drowned in a stormwater drain. Rescue teams continue their search for missing persons, including a baby who went missing near Bhusa Mandi in Rawalpindi after flash floods inundated the area.
Separately, the bodies of three individuals swept away by floodwaters in Rawalpindi were recovered on Thursday.
While Punjab has borne the brunt of the devastation, other provinces have also reported casualties and extensive damage. NDMA said at least 75 deaths have been confirmed from other parts of the country, including Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The figures may rise as rescue and relief efforts continue in remote and hard-hit areas.
Heavy rains have disrupted transportation and electricity supply in several regions. Flash floods and urban flooding have left roads submerged, homes damaged, and livestock washed away.
Relief operations are ongoing in coordination with provincial disaster management authorities and local administrations. Emergency services have been placed on high alert, while medical teams are providing aid to the injured.
The NDMA has urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel during rain forecasts and take precautionary measures to avoid accidents related to electrocution and structural collapse.
Several districts across Punjab and parts of Balochistan are facing a worsening flood situation as monsoon rains continue to pour and river levels surge dangerously, leading to widespread damage, displacement, and loss of life.
The water level in the Chenab River has significantly risen near Head Muhammadwala, submerging settlements, including Nazar Wala, Kheda, Lak, and Wasande Wala. Fruit orchards and vegetable gardens have been inundated, devastating local farmers.
Residents have expressed concerns over the lack of timely government action. “There are no preventive measures in place. Crops are underwater, and the water flow is so strong that it could cause a major disaster,” said a local farmer.
District control room in-charge Abdul Rahim stated that early warning systems have been activated, and evacuations are ongoing in the affected areas.
In Mehrabpur, a young man identified as Adnan Malik drowned while bathing in the Rohri Canal near Behlani. Local police confirmed that a search operation is underway with the help of divers.
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