ISLAMABAD/LAHORE/MANSEHRA: Almost half of the 266 deaths linked to heavier-than-normal monsoon rains were children on their national school holidays, officials said on Friday.
Most of the deaths have occurred in Punjab where monsoon rainfall has been 70 per cent higher than last year, said Mazhar Hussain from the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Agency. “Children are very vulnerable to this situation. They are playing in water, bathing, and electricity shocks can happen,” he told AFP. “That’s why their ratio is higher than any other, especially because it’s a holiday in Punjab and schools and colleges are closed.”
The national disaster agency said on Friday that 266 people had been killed across Pakistan since the monsoon hit on June 26, with 126 of them children. Flash floods, building collapses, lightning strikes and drownings were among the causes of death. Hundreds more have been injured.
The PDMA spokeswoman said this week that the heaviest rains usually started later in the monsoon season. “Such death tolls are usually seen in August, but this year the impact has been markedly different,” she said, adding that rains were expected to strengthen in August.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of a powerful new monsoon spell likely to hit large swathes of the country from July 28, triggering potentially dangerous flash floods, urban inundation and landslides across vulnerable regions.
Authorities have been placed on high alert as the forecast warns of widespread rain, thunderstorms and isolated heavy downpours from Gilgit-Baltistan to southern Balochistan through the end of the month.
According to the PMD’s National Weather Forecasting Centre, weak monsoon currents are currently affecting the upper and central parts of the country, but are expected to significantly intensify starting Sunday, July 28.
A westerly wave is also expected to enter Pakistan on July 29, further aggravating the weather system. The combined impact of these systems is likely to result in a series of intense rain and thunderstorm events with high risk of localised flooding and infrastructural damage.
Northern and hilly regions will be particularly vulnerable, with heavy rainfall predicted in Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the mountainous districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Mansehra and Abbottabad from July 27 to 31.
Punjab’s upper and central regions—including Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Murree, Galliyat, Lahore, Gujranwala, and Sialkot—are also likely to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall, especially between July 28 and 31.
In southern Punjab, Balochistan and parts of Sindh, scattered thundershowers are expected from July 29 to 31, with the possibility of strong winds and lightning damaging weak structures such as mud houses, power lines, billboards, and solar panels.
Cities including Multan, Bahawalpur, Khanewal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Quetta, Khuzdar, Loralai, and Zhob are on the radar for possible weather-related disruptions.
Urban flooding is particularly feared in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore and Sialkot, while flash floods may hit the nullahs and streams in Chitral, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, and adjoining regions.
Landslides and road blockages are anticipated in Murree, Galliyat, parts of KP, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.
The PMD has urged the public, especially tourists and travellers, to exercise extreme caution, avoid unnecessary travel to mountainous and flood-prone areas, and remain updated through official weather alerts.
Rescue services and all concerned civic agencies have been advised to stay alert and ready for emergency response operations throughout the forecast period.
This latest advisory follows several weeks of heavy monsoon activity that had already claimed over 220 lives across this season. With the upcoming weather system projected to be particularly severe, the Meteorological Department has reiterated the need for proactive preparedness to mitigate loss of life and property.
Meanwhile, following the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the PDMA has issued a monsoon fact sheet. The fact sheet includes data on the status of monsoon rains, water levels in Punjab’s rivers, barrages and dams.
Monsoon rains were recorded in most districts of Punjab in the last 24 hours. Multan recorded 117 mm of rain, Lahore 43 mm, Sheikhupura 37 mm, Hafizabad 15 mm, Okara 13 mm and Sahiwal 12 mm. Rains were also recorded in Lahore, Narowal, Sialkot, Toba Tek Singh and Dera Ghazi Khan. The fourth series of monsoon rains continued till July 25. There is a possibility of rain in most districts of Punjab including Lahore and Rawalpindi in the next 24 hours. There is also a possibility of flooding in rivers and streams of Punjab.
PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia has said that in view of the instructions of the chief minister, an alert has been issued to the administration and relevant departments across the province. In the last 12 hours, 10 citizens were injured due to roof collapse during rains. There was no loss of life due to accidents due to rains in the last 24 hours. As many as 121 livestock died due to rains. The deaths were due to the collapse of mud houses, dilapidated buildings and roofs. Deaths were also reported due to lightning and drowning while bathing in rivers. In view of the instructions of CM, financial assistance is being ensured for the bereaved families. Farmers’ crop and livestock losses will also be compensated.
There is 54 per cent water in Mangla Dam while 79 per cent in Tarbela. The water level in Indian Dams is about 36 per cent. There is a low-level flood in the Indus River at Kalabagh and Tarbela. There is a medium-level flood in the Indus River at Chashma and Taunsa. The flow of water in Chenab, Ravi, Jhelum and Sutlej rivers is currently normal. PDMA arrangements are complete in view of the possible flood threat. There is a risk of urban flooding in Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad and Gujranwala. PDMA Control Room and District Emergency Operation Centers are monitoring the situation 24/7. The Punjab government has imposed a ban on bathing in rivers, canals and storm drains.
The PDMA Punjab has issued the fifth spell alert of monsoon rains. Monsoon rains are predicted in most districts of Punjab from July 28 to 31. Rain is predicted in Murree, Galiat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad. Rain is also predicted in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Faisalabad, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bhakkar, Bahawalpur, Khanewal, Pakpattan, Vehari, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur from July 29 to 31.
Meanwhile, a heavy landslide triggered by a cloudburst near Saiful Muluk Lake on Friday blocked the main road, stranding over 200 tourists for several hours.
“We moved heavy machinery to clear the artery that connects Naran with Saiful Muluk Lake, as over 50 jeeps carrying tourists to the high-altitude areas of the valley were stuck. The road was cleared within about three hours after we received the emergency call,” Assad Shahzad, deputy director of the Kaghan Development Authority, told reporters.
He said the cloudburst had caused heavy, muddy water to flow onto the lake road, bringing boulders and rocks that blocked the route at two to three points.
“Thousands of tourists who had gone to enjoy the serene Saiful Muluk Lake, the tear-shaped lake, and the natural beauty of high high-altitude parts were stranded but were later able to move back down to Naran after the road was cleared,” he added.
