Torrential monsoon rains have wreaked havoc across Pakistan’s Punjab province, claiming at least 63 lives and injuring over 290 people within just 24 hours since downpours began early Wednesday morning. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) confirmed the grim toll, noting that most fatalities were caused by collapsing buildings, with others resulting from drowning and electrocution.
The latest casualties bring the nationwide death toll to nearly 180 since the start of the monsoon season in late June — more than half of them children.
In the wake of the destruction, Rawalpindi authorities declared Thursday a public holiday, urging residents to stay home as floodwaters continued to rise. Those living near the banks of the Leh River, which cuts through the city and has swelled dangerously, have been ordered to evacuate.
In Chakwal, a city that recorded a staggering 400mm of rainfall in just one day, scenes of chaos and urgency unfolded. Rescue teams in boats searched for stranded residents, while military helicopters hovered above heavily inundated neighborhoods in search of survivors.
Punjab’s Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz, declared a state of emergency in several districts, stating on social media:
“Government institutions are working with utmost effort.”
She urged citizens to follow official safety directives, as forecasts warn of more rain and flash floods expected through the weekend.
The extreme weather has shut down expressways, led to flight cancellations and delays, and triggered a province-wide emergency response, with thousands of rescue workers now on high alert.
A Country on the Frontlines of Climate Change
Pakistan, a nation of nearly 250 million people, remains one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries. It faces the dual threat of severe droughts and destructive monsoon flooding, largely driven by the warming global climate.
The country is also home to more than 13,000 glaciers, many of which are melting at an alarming rate due to rising global temperatures. These glacial melts significantly contribute to flash flooding, landslides, and river overflows — especially during monsoon season.
This week’s catastrophe is a grim reminder of the devastating floods of 2022, when a third of the country was submerged, over 1,700 people died, and damages exceeded $30 billion. In the aftermath, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on the global community to help Pakistan recover, stating the country had been “doubly victimised” by climate injustice and a “morally bankrupt” international financial system.
As climate-induced disasters grow in intensity and frequency, Pakistan continues to sound the alarm for global action, even as it grapples with the urgent need for resilience, relief, and recovery at home.
