ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been placed on alert after monsoon rains claimed at least 17 lives and injured 41 others since June 26, with weather authorities warning that another spell of heavy rainfall could trigger rising river levels and localized flooding across several parts of the country next week.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the latest casualty was reported from Zhob district in Balochistan, where a child died and three other children were injured after a house collapsed during heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours.
The NDMA said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has recorded the highest number of monsoon-related deaths since the beginning of the rainy season, followed by Punjab and Balochistan. Most fatalities have been linked to house collapses, flash floods and other rain-related incidents.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast another active weather system from July 6 to July 9, bringing widespread rain and isolated heavy downpours to Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Punjab and parts of northern Balochistan.
The department’s Flood Forecasting Division warned that rainfall over the upper catchments of major rivers is expected to increase water flows, although river levels are currently within normal limits. Authorities have advised provincial administrations and emergency services to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures in areas vulnerable to flooding.
Since June 26, heavy rains have damaged at least 88 houses across the country, while 163 livestock have also been lost, according to the NDMA. Flash floods have further affected parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, where damaged roads and homes have disrupted transportation and daily life in several mountainous communities.
Pakistan experiences its annual monsoon season from June through September, with heavy rainfall providing vital water for agriculture while also increasing the risk of flash floods, landslides and infrastructure damage. Low-lying areas and mountainous regions remain particularly vulnerable during periods of intense rainfall.
The country continues to rank among the nations most exposed to the effects of climate change despite contributing less than one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists say rising global temperatures are increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events across South Asia, making heavy rainfall, flooding and heatwaves more common.
The latest weather warnings have revived memories of Pakistan’s devastating floods in 2022, when record monsoon rains killed more than 1,700 people, affected approximately 33 million residents and caused economic losses exceeding $30 billion. Severe flooding also struck parts of the country in 2025, leaving more than 1,000 people dead and causing widespread damage to crops, homes and public infrastructure, particularly in Punjab.
With fresh storms expected over the coming days, disaster management authorities have urged residents living near rivers, streams and flood-prone areas to closely monitor official weather advisories and avoid unnecessary travel during periods of heavy rainfall. Emergency response agencies have also been directed to remain prepared for possible rescue and relief operations if weather conditions deteriorate.
