Heavy rains and flash floods claimed the lives of eight people, including a woman and a three-year-old child, in various incidents across Pakistan on Saturday. The severe weather also resulted in numerous injuries and significant property damage.
In Punjab, three laborers lost their lives when the roof of a room collapsed due to accumulated rainwater at the FIEDMC Economic Zone. The victims were identified as 40-year-old Rizwan, 18-year-old Wasif, and 30-year-old Mansoor. A fourth worker, 55-year-old Rashid, sustained severe injuries in the incident.
In a separate tragedy in Iqbal Nagar, Samundri, 40-year-old Khalid and his three-year-old son were buried under the rubble when their roof caved in during the downpour. Meanwhile, in Chak 431/GB, 35-year-old Abida died when the roof of her home collapsed. In another incident on Narwala Road near Aminpur Bypass, 40-year-old Sajida, her 18-year-old son Rizwan, and her 15-year-old daughter Hira were severely injured due to a similar roof collapse. Additionally, the roof of a roadside eatery on Jhumra Road collapsed, injuring 36-year-old Samira and 17-year-old Ali Haider.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a warning on Saturday about the potential for urban flooding due to heavy rains and strong winds in several cities. Lahore, Sialkot, and Narowal were identified as particularly at risk, with a medium to high-level flood surge expected in the Chenab River. The NDMA also warned that urban flooding could affect Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, and Multan, while flash floods were likely in the mountainous streams of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two teenagers drowned in a seasonal spring in Adenzai tehsil in Chakdarra. Their bodies were recovered by local divers and handed over to their families. The victims were identified as 12-year-old Sudais and 15-year-old Hassan. Flash floods, triggered by a cloudburst, also inundated homes and shops in Garhi Baloch and Jandola Bazaar in Tank, and disrupted traffic on the Pak-Afghan Highway in Landikotal tehsil of Khyber district.
Balochistan also faced the brunt of torrential rains, with flash floods entering homes and shops, and disrupting communication systems. The northeastern region of the province, including Chaman, was particularly affected. In Chaman, a rainstorm caused houses, walls, and solar panels to collapse, injuring 10 people and destroying the Sadiq Cricket Stadium.
In Quetta, heavy rain led to power outages across most areas, and the Quetta-Chaman railway track was washed away by flash floods. In Jafarabad and nearby areas, rainwater entered homes and shops, causing significant destruction. A breach in the Jhaddar Branch due to the flood turned streets and neighborhoods into pools, further complicating the situation for citizens and traders. Similar conditions were reported in Manjhipur City and surrounding areas, where ongoing rain increased pressure on sub-branches of the Sam and Pat Feeder canals, leading to power outages.
Efforts are ongoing in Sibi to protect rural populations and agricultural lands from monsoon rains and floodwaters. In Kalat, flash floods submerged low-lying areas, entered homes, and caused the emergency ward of the DHQ Hospital Kalat to flood. Roads in various rural areas were washed away, cutting off connections with different rural regions.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) recorded varying amounts of rainfall across Balochistan, with the highest recorded at 16mm in Loralai. Light rain was also reported in several other districts. The PMD has forecast continued rain in parts of Balochistan for the next two to three days, along with strong winds and thunderstorms in Qila Saifullah, Mastung, and other areas.
In Sindh, while the monsoon system has largely moved towards central and upper Sindh and Balochistan, Karachi is expected to experience light to moderate rain. However, heavy rain is forecasted for several other cities in Sindh, including Jacobabad, Larkana, Dadu, Shikarpur, Ghotki, and Sukkur.
