Monsoon toll tops 45 as 13 perish in 24 hours

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE/PESHAWAR/KARACHI:

The death toll from monsoon-triggered flash floods and rain-related incidents across Pakistan surged to 45 on Sunday, with 13 more fatalities reported in the past 24 hours alone, as relentless downpours battered multiple regions.

From mountainous torrents in Swat to deadly roof collapses in Karachi, the unfolding crisis has exposed the strain on vulnerable infrastructure and heightened concerns over preparedness as the monsoon intensifies.

Disaster authorities have issued fresh alerts, warning of continued risks in both urban lowlands and high-altitude districts through the week.

Punjab recorded 13 fatalities since Wednesday. Eight of the victims were children who died when walls or roofs collapsed during heavy rainfall. The remaining adults perished in flash floods.

Sindh and Balochistan reported 11 additional deaths linked to the downpours.

Meanwhile, the national meteorological service issued a warning that the threat of heavy rain and further flash floods will persist until at least Saturday.

Severe weather conditions, including heavy downpours, thunderstorms and gusty winds, wreaked havoc across Punjab on Sunday, leaving at least eight people dead and 27 others injured, according to Rescue 1122.

The casualties were reported from multiple incidents of roof and wall collapses, billboard falls, and lightning strikes across Lahore, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Kasur and Nankana Sahib.

The storm system triggered widespread infrastructure damage, structural failures and emergency response efforts throughout the day.

In Lahore, the deadliest incident occurred in Ahmed Town's Shareefpura, Gali No. 17, where a mud-walled house collapsed during the storm, killing 25-year-old Uzma, wife of Saleem Amjad and seven-month-old Alina, daughter of Muzzamil.

Rana Mehmood, 45, sustained injuries and was shifted to Services Hospital.

Another fatal accident took place near Master Ada Abdullah wedding hall on Band Road in Shera Kot, where a billboard collapsed onto a motorcyclist, killing 50-year-old Shahid, son of Arshad.

His 35-year-old wife Jamila and an unidentified child were also injured and taken to Jinnah Hospital.

In a separate incident on Katar Band Road, 25-year-old Shakeel lost his life when a wall collapsed on him.

Other wall collapse incidents in Lahore occurred at Nain Sukh Chowk (Hazrat Ali Road), injuring one person, and near Pindi Cemetery in Shahdara Town, where three people were wounded.

Further injuries were reported on Peco Road, where a person was hit by falling stones at a bus stop, and on Infantry Road in Dharampura, where another wall collapse left one person injured.

In Gujranwala, two young men died in separate lightning strikes. Hazira, 25, was struck in Phame Soran, Nowshera Virkan, while Zain, 20, was electrocuted in Bale Wali village, Nandpur.

A roof collapse in Nawan Pind near Malhi Chowk left one person injured.

In Sheikhupura, 10-year-old Saher was killed in a wall collapse in Khan Pur village. The district witnessed several other incidents, including wall collapses in Kot Abdul Malik and Kathala Virkan Marid Ke injured one person each, while roof collapses in Chhapa Manaran (Hafizabad Road) injured two more.

A flex board fell near Salman Sweet Sample, injuring two, and gate collisions, caused by strong winds in 16 Chak (Mera Bagwan, Sharqpur), and falls on wet ground in Pind Rattan Singh, Marid Ke, resulted in additional injuries.

The wall collapses in Purana Qila Sattar Shah and near Sufi Soup Factory (Kot Abdul Malik) injuring three more people.

In Kasur, three people were injured in separate roof and wall collapses in Man Singh Wala and Kot Fatah Baaz Khan.

In Nankana Sahib, wall collapses on Abdali Yusuf Wala Warburton Road and Colony Nahar, Jaranwala Road, leaving two more injured.

Rescue 1122 teams were on high alert throughout the day, deploying ambulances and rescue workers across the affected districts. Crews were also involved in clearing fallen trees from key city arteries, including Canal Road, Model Town, Samanabad and Dharampura, to restore traffic flow.

All injured victims were transported to the nearest hospitals for medical treatment.

Authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant as adverse weather conditions are expected to continue and advised the public to call helpline 1122 in case of emergencies.

WASA on alert

Meanwhile, as heavy rainfall and strong winds swept across Lahore on Sunday, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed the Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA) to remain on high alert and ensure uninterrupted drainage operations across the city.

Rainfall was recorded in several key areas, including Lakshmi Chowk, Qurtaba Chowk, Mazang, Data Nagar, Islampura, Shahdara, Ek Moria, Bhati Gate, Baghbanpura and Gulshan Ravi, leading to water accumulation and potential urban flooding threats.

The chief minister directed senior WASA officials to keep all major roads and underpasses clear of water, instructing that pumps and staff be deployed to underpasses in anticipation of blockages.

She also stressed the importance of operational readiness of standby generators with guaranteed fuel supply, ensuring field teams remained actively stationed in vulnerable areas.

It was also recommended that disposal stations operate on generators in areas experiencing power outages, with officials advised to keep all pumping equipment clean and fully functional.

Town directors were directed to maintain continuous monitoring and coordinate response measures across their jurisdictions.

Three, including children, dead in Karachi

In Karachi, at least three people, two of them children, were killed and several others injured on Saturday when unsafe structures collapsed under the weight of torrential rain.

In the first incident, the roof of a third-floor apartment in Lyari's Moosa Colony gave way, burying residents beneath debris.

As rescuers worked through the wreckage, 45-year-old Danish and his three-year-old daughter Almiya were found dead at the scene.

Five others — 11-year-old Ayaan, 12-year-old Danish Jr., four-year-old Zubaida, 30-year-old Beenish, and 30-year-old Kashif — were rescued and rushed to Civil Hospital by Edhi Foundation volunteers.

Qadir, a local resident, told reporters the building was in poor condition, but families remained inside due to financial hardship. "The floor of the top storey collapsed onto the drawing room where several family members had gathered," he said.

A second tragedy unfolded in Manzoor Colony's Sector I when a two-year-old boy died after a wall from a neighbouring building crumbled onto the cement-sheet roof of his home.

The child, identified as Hasan, was killed instantly. His father, Rizwan, and elder brother, Muhammad Hussain, were injured in the collapse and taken to JPMC for treatment by Chhipa Foundation rescuers.

SHO Mazhar Kango confirmed the collapse was due to structural weakening and said a formal inquiry is underway.

Monsoon alerts across Pakistan

As the unforgiving monsoon system wreaks havoc, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has urged cautious preparations in vulnerable regions.

From June 29 to July 5, authorities are on high alert for potential flash floods in mountainous districts and flood-prone urban areas.

The National Emergency Operations Centre has issued impact-based weather alerts warning of rain and thunderstorms across Kashmir, Northeast Punjab, Potohar, Islamabad and central and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Urban flooding may occur in Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, and Kohat, while Potohar cities such as Attock, Chakwal, Rawalpindi and Islamabad face urban flash-flood risks overnight.

Additional warnings include low-level flooding in the Jhelum and Poonch valleys, and medium flows in the Swat River.

Rivers downstream of Tarbela, including the Chenab at Khanki and Qadirabad, may also flood. Tributaries in Chitral and Hunza valleys are at risk, threatening transport, landslides, and power and communication disruptions.

Southern Sindh, including Hyderabad, Badin, Thatta and Karachi, is expected to receive heavy rain, with urban flooding likely post-July 2.

NDMA has urged local administrations to activate contingency plans and disseminate public warnings. Citizens are advised to monitor official bulletins, avoid waterlogged roads and riverbanks, and prepare emergency kits.

The Pak NDMA Disaster Alert App is recommended for real-time updates.

Met Dept forecasts intense rainfall

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasts rain, wind and thunderstorms on Monday across Kashmir, northeast Punjab, Potohar, Islamabad and upper K-[, with isolated heavy downpours expected.

It warns of flash floods and structural damage in hilly regions and northern K-P districts, including Murree, Galliyat, Peshawar and more.

While most of the country will remain hot and humid, scattered thunderstorms are likely in isolated areas of Sindh, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Recent data shows Sheikhupura recorded 35 mm of rain, Islamabad Airport 25 mm, and Karachi up to 36 mm in places like Sarjani Town. Temperatures reached 44°C in Sibbi and Jacobabad.

GLOF warning in G-B

Meanwhile, the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) issued a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) and flash flood warning amid rapidly rising temperatures and the influence of an active western weather system.

"Due to intense heat and the western weather system, the ice in the glaciers of GB is melting rapidly, resulting in an increased risk of glacial floods and flash floods," the GBDMA said in its alert.

"This situation can pose a serious threat to communication roads, bridges, agricultural lands and human life and property," the alert said.

Authorities urged both residents and tourists to exercise extreme caution, avoid unnecessary travel in uncertain or extreme weather conditions, and strictly avoid riverbanks, streams, and glacial zones.

They were also advised to avoid bathing or washing clothes in streams, as the water flow could surge to dangerous levels at any moment.

"The public is urged to avoid staying unnecessarily on glaciers, river banks or bridges, cross floodwaters on foot or any vehicle, and remember the instructions issued by rescue agencies."

The district administration reinforced the importance of preparedness in the face of sudden natural hazards.