ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Monday warned of widespread rains in the country till July 31 as the nationwide death toll from rain-related incidents jumped to 281.
Heavy rains, which began on June 26, have killed 151 people in Punjab, followed by 64 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 27 in Sindh, 20 in Balochistan, nine in Gilgit-Baltistan, two in Azad Kashmir, and eight people in the federal capital of Islamabad.
In its latest advisory issued on Monday evening, the NDMA said an active southwest monsoon system is expected to persist in the country from July 28 till July 31.
The system is expected to bring widespread rainfall to Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, leading to flooding, landslides and urban waterlogging.
“Urban flooding risks remain high in low-lying areas,” the NDMA said. “Citizens are urged to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary travel, and take precautionary measures to protect lives and property.”
In Punjab, significant rainfall is anticipated in Sargodha, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Lahore, Narowal, and adjoining areas, while southern districts including D.G. Khan, Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan may receive moderate rainfall, according to the NDMA.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, moderate rainfall and localized thunderstorms are expected to affect central and lower districts such as Kohistan, Swat, Malakand, Dir, Buner, and surrounding areas. Tributaries like River Swat, Panjkora, Bara, and
Kalpani Nullah may swell and contribute to rising flows in River Kabul at Nowshera.
“River Chitral and its tributaries may also surge due to a combination of glacial melting and rainfall in Booni, Reshun, and adjacent parts of Chitral Valley,” the authority said. “Urban flooding is also anticipated in Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera, and Abbottabad.”
Similarly, rainfall is expected in Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza and Shigar as well as in Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley and Bagh in Azad Kashmir, which are “at risk of riverine flooding and landslides due to heavy precipitation.”
The NDMA said it has instructed all federal and provincial departments, provincial disaster authorities and local administrations to remain on high alert, pre-deploy flood response teams and equipment, and ensure immediate clearance of drainage systems.
“Citizens are strongly advised to monitor official weather updates, identify safe evacuation routes, and use the ‘Pak NDMA Disaster Alert’ mobile application for real-time alerts and guidance,” the authority said. “Tourists and travelers should avoid visiting high-altitude or flood-prone areas during the alert period.”
Pakistan, which ranks among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, has witnessed increasingly erratic weather events in recent years.
In May, at least 32 people were killed in severe storms, while a third of the country was submerged by devastating floods in 2022 that killed more than 1,700 people, affected over 30 million and caused an estimated $35 billion in damages.
