Five more dead as monsoon toll hits 116 across Pakistan

The death toll from ongoing monsoon rains in Pakistan has climbed to 116, with five more fatalities reported in the past 24 hours, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Since June 26, at least 212 people have been injured in rain-related incidents, while torrential downpours have triggered widespread damage to infrastructure, particularly in low-lying and vulnerable regions.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast further heavy rains, thunderstorms, and strong winds across much of the country between July 15 and 17, warning of the potential for flash floods, landslides, and urban flooding.

The NDMA has issued specific flood warnings for streams and nullahs in areas such as Dera Ghazi Khan, northeastern Punjab, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Kashmir, Chitral, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Murree, Galiyat, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Buner, Swabi, Nowshera, and Mardan.

There is also a high risk of landslides in hilly regions of K-P, Murree, Galiyat, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, which may severely impact road access and communication networks.

Read more: NDMA issues heavy rains, flooding alert until July 5

Bahawalnagar recorded the highest rainfall in the past 24 hours at 86mm.

The NDMA has issued storm and heavy rain warnings for the following districts:

Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Chiniot, Toba Tek Singh, Narowal, Okara, Jhang, Bahawalnagar, Multan, Khanewal, and Bahawalpur.

In Islamabad and surrounding areas, downpours are expected to persist through the week, with flood alerts in effect for July 15 to 18 in urban centers including Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Muzaffargarh, Sahiwal, Multan, Kot Addu, and Bahawalpur.

Authorities urge the public to remain cautious, follow official advisories, and avoid travel in flood-prone or landslide-risk areas.