At least 202 people, including 96 children, have died across Pakistan since late June due to relentless monsoon rains, with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issuing urgent flood alerts for multiple regions on Saturday.

The warnings, effective from July 19 to 25, highlight risks of flash floods, urban inundation, and glacial surges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, and the Islamabad Capital Territory.

According to the NDMA, Punjab has suffered the most, with 123 deaths, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (40), Sindh (21), Balochistan (16), and one each in Islamabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. House collapses (118 deaths) and flash floods (30 deaths) are the leading causes, alongside drownings, lightning strikes, electrocutions, and landslides. Over 560 people, including 182 children, have been injured, with widespread damage to homes and infrastructure.

The NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) has placed disaster response teams on high alert, urging citizens to stay indoors during heavy rainfall and avoid travel. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ongoing rains through July 25 threaten flash flooding in rivers like the Kabul and Swat, exacerbated by glacial melt. Punjab and Islamabad face moderate to heavy rainfall from July 21 to 24, with cities such as Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad at risk of urban flooding. In Sindh, Karachi, Hyderabad, and other districts are bracing for thunderstorms and potential water accumulation in low-lying areas.

The devastation is stark in urban centers like Rawalpindi, where flash floods inundated neighborhoods, including Dhamial and Fauji Colony, with water reaching rooftop levels in some areas. In Faisalabad, 11 deaths and over 60 injuries were reported in two days, primarily from collapsing buildings affecting impoverished families. Chakwal has seen over 32 roads destroyed by 450mm of rainfall, with similar damage in Jhelum and Pind Dadan Khan.

Among the victims was eight-year-old Hasan Ali, whose father described the loss as “sudden and beyond comprehension.” Many families have been displaced, fleeing with minimal possessions. Rescue operations, supported by heavy machinery, are underway, with emergency crews repairing breaches like the one at Karoli Dhoke Bridge in Rawalpindi. Power outages and communication disruptions continue to challenge relief efforts.

Provincial authorities have mobilized rescue services, engineers, and medical teams to clear debris and assist affected communities. The NDMA has advised citizens to clear drainage systems, avoid travel during heavy rain, and follow updates via the NDMA Disaster Alert App. With more rainfall forecast and the risk of further casualties looming, Pakistan faces a deepening crisis as the monsoon season intensifies. (ILKHA)