Emergency declared in several cities as rain kills over 60 in Punjab

Lahore (Web Desk): Torrential monsoon rains have claimed the lives of more than 60 people across Punjab within just 24 hours, pushing Pakistan’s total death toll from seasonal downpours to 178 since late June.

The intense rainfall has led to flash flooding, damaged infrastructure, and widespread disruptions in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, with reports of submerged streets, overflowing drains, and homes inundated in low-lying areas.

In Rawalpindi, the situation turned critical after hours of uninterrupted rain caused drainage systems to overflow, sweeping away vehicles and flooding residential neighborhoods.

The rising water level in Nullah Lai added to the danger, prompting the local administration to declare a public holiday on Thursday in hopes of keeping people indoors. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued warnings of continued heavy rainfall until at least Friday night.

Islamabad faced similar conditions, where several basements were flooded, and landslides occurred near the Bari Imam shrine.

The severity of the rain prompted the declaration of a flood emergency in multiple districts, including Chakwal and Rawalpindi.

Chakwal recorded an extraordinary 450mm of rainfall, which resulted in the collapse of the Dherabi dam, unleashing floodwaters into surrounding villages and isolating rural communities by damaging or destroying roads and bridges. Even the historic Katas Raj temple complex was not spared, as it too was inundated.

The effects were also felt in Jhelum, where sudden cloudbursts caused extensive flooding. Several roads were submerged, and seven people — including six police officers — were caught in the rushing waters. Rescuers managed to save six, but one officer remains missing. Across the province, at least 70 individuals have been rescued from flood-hit zones, including a family near Chakri Road in Rawalpindi that had to be airlifted by army helicopters.

In Sialkot, a flood warning was issued after the Chenab River's flow at Head Marala surged to over 72,000 cusecs. Although other rivers and streams are flowing at normal levels, emergency control rooms have been activated, and helpline services are now operational around the clock.

The Punjab government has enforced Section 144, temporarily banning swimming in natural water bodies until August 30 as a safety precaution.

 Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority has urged residents in at-risk areas to stock up on essential supplies for three to five days, including food, clean water, and basic medicines.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the National Emergency Operation Centre to receive updates on the unfolding crisis.

During the briefing, officials noted that rainfall levels this year have exceeded the average by 30 to 40 percent.

While the prime minister expressed grief over the loss of life, he acknowledged that damage has been less severe than in previous years due to early preparedness. He emphasized that cloudbursts and sudden intense downpours have created exceptional conditions that are hard to predict.

Of the fatalities recorded in the last day alone, 46 people died when buildings collapsed, five drowned, and three were electrocuted. The dead include 20 men, 12 women, and 22 children. An additional 227 people sustained injuries — 89 men, 84 women, and 54 children — raising the total number of injured to 491 since the onset of the monsoon season.

Monsoon rains typically bring 70 to 80 percent of South Asia’s yearly precipitation between June and September and are crucial for agriculture. However, in recent years, changing weather patterns have made these rains increasingly unpredictable and dangerous.

While scientists continue to study the connection between climate change and monsoon behavior, what remains clear is that Pakistan — home to over 255 million people — is among the nations most vulnerable to climate-induced disasters. The memories of the catastrophic floods of 2022, which drowned a third of the country and took 1,700 lives, still loom large as the current season unfolds with alarming intensity.