Monsoon Rains Wreak Havoc Across Pakistan, 14 Killed and Dozens Injured in Weather-Related Incidents

The first spell of Pakistan’s monsoon season has caused widespread destruction across the country, claiming at least 14 lives and leaving dozens injured in separate rain-related incidents. Torrential downpours, flash floods, lightning strikes, and collapsing roofs and walls affected all four provinces, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has also issued a high alert over the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in northern regions.

According to media reports, a tragic boating accident occurred at Saifullah Lake in Kalam, Upper Swat, where a tourist boat capsized. Six members of the same family lost their lives, while rescue teams continue searching for one missing woman.

In Attock, heavy rainfall caused roofs and walls to collapse, killing three people, including two brothers, and injuring five others. Lightning strikes in Landi Kotal claimed the lives of two children and injured four people, while another person died after being struck by lightning in Ganjial Qaidabad.

In Upper Dir, lightning hit a religious seminary, leaving 20 female students injured. In Mardan, falling signboards and walls injured three people, including two children. Meanwhile, in Zhob, a woman and a child were killed when the roof of their house collapsed during heavy rain.

Heavy rain also lashed Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Lahore, bringing relief from the heat but causing power outages after several electricity feeders tripped in Lahore. Other cities, including Attock, Pindi Bhattian, Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha, Bhera, Hafizabad, Kasur, and Muridke, also received significant rainfall, while low-lying areas of Gujrat were inundated. Light rain was recorded in several parts of Karachi.

Flood-like conditions were reported in Haripur and Abbottabad, where overflowing streams submerged roads and flooded homes and shops. Three people were injured after a vehicle was swept away by a rain-fed stream. Heavy rainfall also triggered flash floods in parts of Khuzdar, Zhob, Kohlu, and Diamer, damaging crops, orchards, and agricultural land. In Niyat Valley, floodwaters cut off road access, leaving residents stranded.

Authorities said rescue and rehabilitation operations are underway in the affected areas. The NDMA has warned of a heightened risk of glacial lake outburst floods and sudden surges in rivers and mountain streams across Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Azad Kashmir, urging both residents and tourists to avoid rivers, streams, and other vulnerable areas until weather conditions improve.