Severe monsoon rains and flash floods have caused 66 deaths and 123 injuries across Pakistan, said the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Saturday. Many victims were children and women. Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) saw the deadliest flash floods, where 14 people were swept away, including entire families.
In Punjab, 22 people lost their lives after houses collapsed due to heavy rain and floods. Among them, 11 were children. Sindh reported 15 deaths, many in rural towns with poor drainage. Five people died in Balochistan, where landslides and flash floods damaged roads and homes. Injuries were also widespread in AJK.
The NDMA issued urgent weather alerts for all provinces due to risks of urban flooding, landslides, and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). In northern Pakistan, unusually high temperatures are melting glaciers faster, increasing GLOF risks. Hunza district has already seen a major outburst flood, damaging villages and farmland.
To prepare, Rescue 1122, civil defence, and ambulances are on high alert. NDMA directed PDMA KP, GBDMA, and local authorities to closely monitor glacial lakes and carry out evacuation drills. Rescue boats and machinery have been deployed in low-lying and at-risk areas.
The public has been warned to avoid rivers, streams, and nullahs, especially during heavy rain. Law enforcement and motorway police are helping with emergency travel management. Public awareness drives are underway to teach safety steps during floods, rainstorms, and landslides in rural and urban regions.