At least 98 people have been killed and 185 injured across Pakistan since June 26 as relentless monsoon rains and flash floods batter the country, officials confirmed Saturday.

The destructive monsoon season—fueled by climate change, environmental degradation, and unregulated urban expansion—has triggered a nationwide crisis expected to intensify in the coming weeks.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the unusually intense rainfall is being driven by rising temperatures, expanding urban heat islands, and altered local weather systems. “As concrete replaces trees in growing cities, temperatures soar. Combined with high humidity and cold air masses, this results in violent and persistent rainfall,” explained Irfan Virk, Deputy Director at the department.

Monsoon activity is forecast to continue in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, upper and central Punjab, and northeastern Balochistan until at least July 17, with meteorologists warning that cloud-heavy conditions and downpours could persist into August.

In response to the escalating crisis, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued urgent flood warnings for southern Punjab, particularly in districts such as Bela, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Zahirpir, Mithankot, Rajanpur, Liaquatpur, Khanpur, and Alipur.

Torrential rains have also struck the Ahmedpur Sharqia, Jalalpur Peerwala, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Bahawalpur divisions, causing widespread flooding and infrastructure damage. Muzaffargarh’s Nisab station recorded the highest rainfall, reaching 40mm in a single day.

The NDMA has urged residents to stay away from riverbanks and low-lying areas, seek secure shelter, and exercise extreme caution amid continuing threats from flash floods, windstorms, and lightning. The agency has also warned of sustained heavy rains in Multan, Bahawalpur, and parts of Cholistan.

Environmental experts have underscored the role of climate change and urbanization in worsening the monsoon’s impact. As rural green spaces disappear under expanding concrete jungles, cities have become more vulnerable to both extreme heat and sudden downpours.

“Villages with dense vegetation experience far less damage,” said meteorologist Irfan Virk. “But in major urban centers, where green cover is minimal, the shift in local climate has created conditions ripe for disaster.”

As Pakistan faces yet another climate-related calamity, officials are urging the public to remain alert, follow emergency instructions, and prioritize safety. Emergency response teams are working across affected regions, but authorities warn that continued rainfall and unpredictable flash floods pose ongoing threats to lives, homes, and livelihoods.

With monsoon intensity showing no signs of abating, Pakistan is once again at the frontline of a climate crisis that continues to endanger millions and expose the fragility of its urban planning and disaster preparedness systems. (ILKHA)