At least 178 people have lost their lives across Pakistan due to torrential monsoon rains and related incidents, with Punjab emerging as the worst-affected province, official data revealed on Saturday.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 103 people have died in Punjab alone during the ongoing spell of heavy rains, most of them due to electrocution, roof collapses, and drowning incidents.
The total number of casualties nationwide now stands at 178, with hundreds more injured and widespread damage reported in both urban and rural areas.
In the past 24 hours, 12 more fatalities were recorded in Punjab. Six individuals lost their lives when residential roofs caved in, while five others were electrocuted amid rain-induced infrastructure failures. A child also drowned in a rainwater drain in Hafizabad, officials confirmed.
City-wise Breakdown
In Lahore, a roof collapse near the city’s railway station killed two people. In Shahdara, a young man died due to electrocution after coming into contact with a live wire on a utility pole. Chiniot reported three fatalities, including women, due to two separate roof collapse incidents.
In Multan, Okara, and Khushab, one person each was killed by electric shocks, while in Hafizabad, a child drowned in a stormwater drain. Rescue teams continue their search for missing persons, including a baby who went missing near Bhusa Mandi in Rawalpindi after flash floods inundated the area.
Separately, the bodies of three individuals swept away by floodwaters in Rawalpindi were recovered on Thursday.
National toll
While Punjab has borne the brunt of the devastation, other provinces have also reported casualties and extensive damage. NDMA said at least 75 deaths have been confirmed from other parts of the country, including Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The figures may rise as rescue and relief efforts continue in remote and hard-hit areas.
Heavy rains have disrupted transportation and electricity supply in several regions. Flash floods and urban flooding have left roads submerged, homes damaged, and livestock washed away.
Government response
Relief operations are ongoing in coordination with provincial disaster management authorities and local administrations. Emergency services have been placed on high alert, while medical teams are providing aid to the injured.
The NDMA has urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel during rain forecasts and take precautionary measures to avoid accidents related to electrocution and structural collapse.
