Despite official assurances of readiness, Punjab has been the most severely affected province during this year’s monsoon season, recording the highest number of deaths and injuries in rain-related incidents, according to a fresh report from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Since the start of the monsoon, 266 people have lost their lives and 628 have sustained injuries across Pakistan. Among the deceased are 94 men, 46 women, and 126 children. The NDMA’s latest update, issued Thursday, reported eight deaths and six injuries in the past 24 hours alone due to weather-related events.
The latest casualties include three deaths and five injuries in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), two fatalities each in Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), and one death in Sindh.
Punjab reported the heaviest toll with 144 deaths and 488 injuries. K-P followed with 63 deaths and 79 injuries, while Sindh recorded 25 deaths and 40 injuries. Other regions affected include Balochistan (16 deaths), Islamabad (8), G-B (7), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (2).
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The monsoon has also caused significant property and livestock losses. In the last 24 hours, 84 homes were damaged and 38 livestock perished. Cumulatively, 1,089 homes have been affected, and 366 animals have died.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a flash flood alert for Dera Ghazi Khan and warned of urban flooding risks in low-lying areas of northeastern and eastern Punjab through Thursday night. A seasonal low over northeastern Balochistan, combined with moist Arabian Sea winds and a westerly wave, is driving the unstable weather.
Scattered rain, wind, and thunderstorms are forecast in Kashmir, K-P, upper and central Punjab, G-B, and northeastern Balochistan. Isolated heavy showers are expected in parts of upper K-P, central Punjab, and northeastern Balochistan, while other areas will experience hot and humid weather.
On Friday, most regions will remain hot and humid, though localized rain and thunderstorms may occur in G-B, northeastern Punjab, upper K-P, and Kashmir.
Rainfall over the past 24 hours in Punjab included 69mm in Sargodha and Sheikhupura, 59mm in Noor Pur Thal and Hafizabad, and 51mm in Mandi Bahauddin. Lahore saw rainfall ranging from 2mm in Mughalpura
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