Torrential monsoon rains and associated incidents have claimed the lives of at least 178 people across Pakistan, with Punjab emerging as the most severely affected province, official data revealed on Saturday.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 103 fatalities have been reported in Punjab alone during the ongoing spell of heavy rains. Most of these deaths are attributed to electrocution, roof collapses, and drowning incidents. The nationwide death toll has now reached 178, with hundreds more injured and widespread damage reported in both urban and rural areas.
In the past 24 hours, Punjab recorded 12 additional fatalities. Six individuals died when residential roofs caved in, while five others were electrocuted amidst rain-induced infrastructure failures. Officials also confirmed the drowning of a child in a rainwater drain in Hafizabad.
City-wise Breakdown: In Lahore, a roof collapse near the city’s railway station resulted in two deaths. In Shahdara, a young man succumbed to electrocution after touching a live wire on a utility pole. Chiniot reported three fatalities, including women, from two separate roof collapse incidents.
In Multan, Okara, and Khushab, one person each was killed by electric shocks, while in Hafizabad, a child drowned in a stormwater drain. Rescue teams are continuing their search for missing persons, including an infant who disappeared near Bhusa Mandi in Rawalpindi after flash floods inundated the area. Separately, the bodies of three individuals swept away by floodwaters in Rawalpindi were recovered on Thursday.
National Toll: While Punjab has borne the brunt of the devastation, other provinces have also reported casualties and extensive damage. The NDMA stated that at least 75 deaths have been confirmed from other parts of the country, including Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These figures may rise as rescue and relief efforts continue in remote and hard-hit areas.
Heavy rains have disrupted transportation and electricity supply in several regions. Flash floods and urban flooding have left roads submerged, homes damaged, and livestock washed away.
Government Response: Relief operations are ongoing in coordination with provincial disaster management authorities and local administrations. Emergency services have been placed on high alert, while medical teams are providing aid to the injured. The NDMA has urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel during rain forecasts and to take precautionary measures to prevent accidents related to electrocution and structural collapse.
