Monsoon havoc in Pakistan: Flash floods and heavy rain killed 45 in just days

At least 45 people have been killed across Pakistan as heavy rain and flash floods battered multiple regions since the start of the monsoon season, disaster management officials said on Sunday. 

The death toll includes a large number of children, underscoring the human cost of intensifying climate-related disasters in the country.

The worst-hit was the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bordering Afghanistan, where 21 people, including 10 children, lost their lives. 

The Swat Valley alone accounted for 14 deaths, where local media reported that a flash flood swept away families gathered near a riverbank.

In Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province located along the Indian border, 13 people have died since Wednesday. 

Officials said eight of them were children, killed when walls or roofs collapsed during intense rainfall. The remaining victims were caught in sudden floods.

Another 11 fatalities have been reported in Sindh and Balochistan, further highlighting the widespread impact of the seasonal downpour.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned that heavy rainfall and the risk of flash floods will persist until at least Saturday, urging residents in vulnerable areas to take precautions.

This latest tragedy follows a string of extreme weather events in Pakistan. Just last month, 32 people were killed in violent storms, and earlier in the year, the country faced hailstorms and unusual temperature shifts during spring.With a population of over 240 million, Pakistan ranks among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations. 

Scientists and disaster experts have repeatedly warned that climate change is accelerating the frequency and severity of extreme weather, putting millions at risk in the region.Rescue and relief efforts are ongoing, and authorities have appealed for public vigilance as the monsoon deepens.

Source:  The Times of India 
--Agencies