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Arab News
17 minutes ago
- Climate
- Arab News
Pakistan monsoon death toll hits 242, with at least 116 children among the dead
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's meteorological department on Tuesday warned of glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs), flash floods and landslides in the country's mountainous northern regions, as the national death toll from monsoon-related incidents climbed to 242, including at least 116 children. The warning comes amid ongoing heavy monsoon rains that have battered the country since late June, triggering urban flooding, house collapses and deadly flash floods. At least 21 people, including 12 children, died in the past 24 hours alone, according to Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), with many of the fatalities reported from drowning, building collapses and fast-moving floodwaters. The worst-hit province has been Punjab, Pakistan's most populous region, where at least 135 people have died. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) reported 56 fatalities, followed by 24 in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan, six in the federal capital of Islamabad, three in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and two in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. 'In continuation to the GLOF alert issued dated July 15, the wet spell is likely to continue and can affect KP and GB in the current week,' the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said in a public statement. 'The prevailing weather conditions increase the risk of GLOFs, flashfloods, and landslide events in vulnerable glaciated regions of GB and KP.' Glacier lake outburst floods, sudden discharges of water from glacial lakes, are a growing threat in Pakistan's north due to accelerated glacial melting driven by climate change. These floods can inundate entire valleys in minutes, destroying roads, homes and livelihoods. The PMD also warned of landslides and mudslides in areas such as Murree, Galliyat, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, cautioning that roads could be blocked and essential connectivity disrupted. Heavy rains are forecast to continue until July 25. CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS On Tuesday, urban flooding also hit the capital Islamabad, with viral videos showing cars swept away by torrents of water in Saidpur Village and the upscale Defense Housing Authority (DHA) neighborhood. One video widely circulated on social media showed a vehicle submerged in floodwater, with a man inside calling for help. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over reports of a father and daughter believed to have drowned in the DHA flooding and directed authorities to expedite rescue operations across flood-affected areas. The monsoon season typically brings 70 to 80 percent of South Asia's annual rainfall, arriving in June in India and slightly later in Pakistan. While vital for agriculture, the rains also wreak havoc in countries with fragile infrastructure, poor drainage and high vulnerability to climate shocks. Pakistan, home to more than 7,000 glaciers, is consistently ranked among the countries most at risk from climate change, despite contributing less than 1 percent to global greenhouse gas emissions. It has seen increasingly erratic weather patterns in recent years, including record-breaking heatwaves, droughts, and severe storms. In May, at least 32 people were killed in separate incidents of torrential rainfall and hailstorms across the country. In 2022, catastrophic floods caused by a combination of unprecedented monsoon rains and glacial melt submerged nearly a third of Pakistan, killing more than 1,700 people and displacing over 8 million. That disaster inflicted an estimated $30 billion in economic losses and prompted repeated UN calls for global climate reparations.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
223 killed so far in rain-related incidents in Pakistan
The death toll in rain-related incidents in Pakistan reached 223 as another twelve people were killed in the last 24 hours, Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Tuesday. People wade through the flooded street after during the monssoon rain in Rawalpindi, Pakistan on July 17, 2025. (REUTERS) According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the latest casualties include two men, as many women and eight children, while ten others were injured in rain-related incidents in the last 24 hours. So far, 594 people have suffered injuries in the heavy downpour-led accidents this monsoon season. Punjab remained the worst-hit province, with 135 deaths and 470 injuries recorded, NDMA said. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 56 people have lost their lives and 71 have been hurt. Sindh has reported 24 casualties and 40 wounded, it added. Baluchistan has confirmed 16 fatalities, while Pakistan-occupied Kashmir saw one death and six people harmed. Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir reported three non-fatal casualties, while Islamabad saw one fatality, it said. Most of the deaths have been caused by structural collapses, drowning, landslides, flash floods, lightning strikes, and electrocution. The NDMA report further stated that 25 houses collapsed in the last 24 hours, while five cattle were also killed. Since the start of the monsoon season, 804 houses have been damaged or destroyed, and 200 livestock have been lost. The authorities also warned of a flood emergency in Babusar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides in a 7-8 km radius around Babusar Top in the Naran valley. Authorities have strongly advised citizens to take precautions, especially those in flood-prone or low-lying areas.
Al Jazeera
6 hours ago
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
Rains, flash floods kill 21 in Pakistan; tourists rescued in hilly north
Islamabad, Pakistan – Flash floods and landslides have killed at least 21 people in 24 hours across Pakistan, taking the total death toll in this year's monsoon to 242. At least three people died in the northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan on Tuesday when a cloudburst caused floods and landslides, stranding more than 200 tourists who were later rescued, officials said. 'So far, we have rescued between 200 and 250 people in various areas who arrived for tourism purposes. All of them are Pakistani nationals. Meanwhile, between 15 to 20 people are still missing, and search efforts are ongoing,' Farmanullah Khan, a government official in Gilgit-Baltistan, told Al Jazeera. Officials said the rescued tourists were moved to the city of Chilas, where they were provided shelter in hotels and guesthouses. 'Rescue operations are actively under way to locate missing tourists with military personnel participating in the efforts. Helicopters will be deployed for rescue if necessary,' Faizullah Faraq, spokesperson for the Gilgit-Baltistan government, said in a statement. On Monday, at least four other tourists were killed and 15 went missing due to the floods in the region's Diamer district. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Tuesday said at least 10 people died in neighbouring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, including six children. The NDMA said most of the deaths were caused by house collapses as above-average rains pounded the South Asia nation, still recovering from the floods of 2022, which killed nearly 1,700 people and displaced more than 30 million. An NDMA official told Al Jazeera the rains this year have been more intense compared with last year. 'This is the fourth spell during this monsoon and is expected to go on till July 25,' he said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media. On Tuesday, the NDMA issued a landslide alert for several northern areas, including parts of both Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast widespread rain, winds and thundershowers for Tuesday across northern Pakistan and parts of Punjab province. Pakistan, which has a population of about 250 million, is one of the world's most vulnerable countries to climate change. It is also home to more than 7,000 glaciers – the largest outside the Earth's polar regions. On June 26, Gilgit-Baltistan's Disaster Management Authority warned of an increased risk of glacial lake outburst floods and flash floods and asked people to avoid approaching rivers, streams and other waterways. Zakir Hussein, director general of the authority, said that while warnings help reduce the presence of tourists, they are not always enough. 'Generally, tourists pay attention to our warning notices. Those who still choose to come are either those who did not see the warning or those who have some urgency to visit,' Hussein told Al Jazeera. 'At the end of the day, it is weather prediction, but considering the severity of the consequences, people should take it seriously.' Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the capital, Islamabad, two people riding in a car were swept into a storm drain at a residential complex. A video circulating on social media showed the vehicle being carried away by floodwaters into the drain. Rescue officials have launched a search for the missing passengers. Abdul Moiz, a local pharmacy owner, said only a few shops were open in the area on Tuesday due to the relentless rain. 'It is a strong storm and does not look like stopping anytime soon. I live in the same society, and while it could have been easy to stay indoors, I thought this is a time when people might need medicines, so I am here at my shop,' he told Al Jazeera via telephone.
Arab News
12 hours ago
- Climate
- Arab News
Monsoon rains wreak havoc, killing 10 in northwestern Pakistan during last 24 hours
PESHAWAR: At least 10 people were killed and two injured during the last 24 hours in rain-related incidents across Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the provincial disaster management authority (PDMA) said on Tuesday as monsoon rains continue to wreak havoc in many parts of the country. As per the PDMA's preliminary report, the deceased include two men, two women and six children while the injured includes a man and one child. The report said that 10 houses were damaged in total, eight of which were partially damaged while two were completely destroyed due to rains and flash floods. The incidents occurred in various districts of the province such as Swat, Bajaur, Buner, Upper Kohistan, Upper Chitral and Shangla, as per the PDMA report. 'The PDMA has directed the concerned district administrations to immediately provide assistance to the affected families and ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured,' the disaster management authority said. The development takes place as the death toll from rain-related incidents in Pakistan since June 26 has surged to 221, as per the National Disaster Management Authority's (NDMA) latest situation reported released on Monday evening. Pakistan's most populous Punjab province has reported the highest number of deaths at 135, followed by 46 in KP, 22 in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan, and one each in the federal capital of Islamabad and Azad Kashmir. The Pakistan Meteorological Department warned this week that landslides and mudslides may block roads in vulnerable areas of Murree, Galliyat, Azad Kashmir and GB, forecasting heavy rains till July 25. Torrential rains, windstorms and lightning could also damage weak structures, electric poles, billboards, vehicles and solar panels, it added. 3 DEAD, 15 MISSING IN NORTHERN PAKISTAN The NDMA said three people had died after a cloudburst triggered flash floods on Babusar Road in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region on Monday afternoon. Various news reports said 15 tourists were missing after flash floods swept away several vehicles, damaging them in the process. The authority said an area of approximately seven to eight kilometers on Babusar Road was affected, causing 14–15 major blockages due to landslides, debris and flash floods. 'Three dead bodies received at Regional Headquarters Chila, one injured person under treatment,' the NDMA said on Monday. 'Tourists stranded at various points were evacuated.' The NDMA said Babusar Road was 'severely blocked,' adding that around 10–15 vehicles were stuck in nullahs and slide areas as authorities rescued stranded tourists in the area. The twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi were also lashed with heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours State broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported that Islamabad received the highest rainfall, 184 millimeters, over the past 24 hours. Heavy rains led to urban flooding in the capital's Saidpur Village, as footage shared widely on social media showed severely damaged cars being swept away by raging currents in nullahs. A video played by leading news channel Geo News showed a car with two people inside being swept away by floodwater. The news channel claimed the incident took place in Rawalpindi's Defense Housing Authority Phase 5 area. Monsoon season brings South Asia 70 to 80 percent of its annual rainfall, arriving in early June in India and late June in Pakistan, and lasting through until September. In 2022, record-breaking monsoon rains combined with glacial melt submerged nearly a third of Pakistan, killing more than 1,700 people and displacing over 8 million. In May, at least 32 people were killed in severe storms, including strong hailstorms.
Arab News
15 hours ago
- Climate
- Arab News
Three dead as cloudburst triggers flash flood in northern Pakistan's popular Babusar Road
ISLAMABAD: Three people were killed while one was injured this week as a cloudburst triggered flash floods that caused several blockages on the key Babusar Road in Pakistan's northern Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said. The Babusar Road in northern Pakistan is a popular mountain route for tourists, connecting the Kaghan Valley in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province to GB. The NDMA said that a cloudburst at 3:30 p.m. on Monday affected an area of approximately seven to eight kilometers on Babusar Road, causing 14–15 major blockages due to landslides, debris and flash floods. 'Three dead bodies received at Regional Headquarters Chila, one injured person under treatment,' the NDMA said in a statement. 'Tourists stranded at various points were evacuated.' The disaster management authority further said that the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Diamer visited the site. However, it said they could only travel as far as the road's middle point as the area beyond it remains inaccessible on foot due to heavy boulder deposits. 'Babusar Road is severely blocked,' the NDMA said. 'Karakorum Highway blocked at Lal Parhi and Tatta Pani [areas]. Around 10–15 vehicles are stuck in nullahs and slide areas.' The development took place as the Pakistan Meteorological Department warned that a fresh monsoon rain spell till July 25 is likely to trigger more floods in Pakistan. Heavy rains have killed at least 221 people and injured 591 across the country, as per the NDMA's latest situation report. Pakistan's most populous Punjab province has reported the highest number of deaths at 135, followed by 46 in KP, 22 in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan, and one each in the federal capital of Islamabad and Azad Kashmir. The PMD warned landslides and mudslides may block roads in vulnerable areas of Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir and GB during this time period. Heavy rains, windstorms and lightning could also damage weak structures, electric poles, billboards, vehicles and solar panels. Monsoon season brings South Asia 70 to 80 percent of its annual rainfall, arriving in early June in India and late June in Pakistan, and lasting through until September. In 2022, record-breaking monsoon rains combined with glacial melt submerged nearly a third of Pakistan, killing more than 1,700 people and displacing over 8 million. In May, at least 32 people were killed in severe storms, including strong hailstorms.
