ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s meteorological department on Monday warned of heavy rains and landslides across several regions of the country as the death toll from this year’s monsoon season climbed to 798 since late June.
Weeks of relentless downpours have triggered flash floods, landslides and house collapses in the country’s north and east, sweeping away homes, livestock and key infrastructure.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province has been worst hit, reporting 479 deaths since June 26, followed by Punjab with 165 deaths, Sindh 54, Gilgit-Baltistan 45, Balochistan 24, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 23 and the capital, Islamabad, eight, according to official figures.
Authorities say the ongoing monsoon spell is expected to last until at least September 10 and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned the rains could rival the scale of the catastrophic floods of June 2022, which killed more than 1,700 people and caused over $30 billion in damage, according to government estimates.
“During 25th August: Landslides/mudslides may cause road closures in vulnerable hilly areas of Kashmir during the forecast period,” the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said in its daily forecast. “Heavy downpour may cause urban flood in low lying areas of Narowal, Sialkot, Gujarat, Jhelum, Gujranwala and Lahore.”
The PMD also cautioned that heavy rain, windstorms and lightning could damage weak structures such as the roofs of mud houses, electric poles, billboards, vehicles and solar panels.
Separately, the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) said on Sunday that the Chenab and Indus rivers were likely to reach high flood levels in the next 24 hours, while the Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala would remain at high flood levels for several days, depending on releases from Indian reservoirs.
Pakistan has seen a surge in fatalities since August 15, with 485 people killed and 334 injured. KP alone has reported 408 deaths in this period, followed by 26 each in Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan, 20 in Azad Kashmir, four in Balochistan and one in Punjab.
PUNJAB ON HIGH ALERT
Separately, the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Monday the province was experiencing its eighth monsoon spell, expected to last until August 27. Heavy rains have been forecast in the next 24 hours across most districts, with upper Punjab, including Murree, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal, likely to receive the heaviest downpours.
The PDMA reported no casualties or damages in the past 24 hours but directed district administrations in vulnerable areas to remain on high alert. Citizens were urged to adopt safety measures during the rains, especially keeping children away from rivers, canals and storm drains.
Flood levels remain a concern. The Sutlej is at high flood at Ganda Singh Wala and medium flood at Sulemanki, while the Chenab is at medium flood at Marala and Khanki. The Indus is experiencing low flood at Kalabagh and Chashma, though levels are normal at Tarbela and Taunsa. Tarbela Dam has reached full capacity while Mangla stands at 76 percent.
Annual monsoon rains are crucial for Pakistan’s agriculture and water supply but in recent years have also unleashed devastation, intensified by shifting climate patterns.
Despite contributing less than 1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan ranks among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. In recent years it has endured increasingly erratic weather, including droughts, heatwaves and record-breaking rains that have caused widespread loss of life and damage to property.
Experts warn that without urgent adaptation and mitigation measures, the human and economic toll of climate change in Pakistan will only deepen in the years ahead.
