Pakistan monsoon floods kill at least 107 as more rain is forecast

Heavy monsoon rains and flooding in Pakistan have killed at least 107 people since the start of the season in June, according to the National Disaster Management Authority. The agency said 344 others have been injured and hundreds of homes damaged, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab among the worst affected provinces. Authorities have also warned that more downpours are expected later this week.

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The NDMA said the death toll from rain-related incidents since late June reached 107, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recording 55 deaths and Punjab 36. More than half of the fatalities were caused by house or roof collapses, highlighting the impact of the rains on vulnerable buildings. In Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, officials have set up at least 17 flood relief camps to shelter evacuated residents.

A senior official in Punjab's Irrigation Department described the situation as very alarming, saying a vast area of around 400 square kilometres across the Lahore and Gujranwala divisions was under water. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said emergency responders had been deployed across the province and were working to drain floodwaters. The Pakistan Meteorological Department said no flood-generating activity was expected until Tuesday, but a fresh wet spell was likely to begin on Wednesday in upper catchments across several regions.

The flooding comes during Pakistan's monsoon season, which in Punjab usually lasts until September. The current episode has affected major urban and rural areas at the same time, with the Ravi River in Punjab flowing at a medium flood level while most other major rivers were at normal to low flood levels. The scale of the flooding in Lahore and nearby districts has raised concern because of the concentration of people, homes and infrastructure in the affected areas.

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The disaster also reflects the wider vulnerability of densely populated parts of Pakistan to seasonal rain and floodwater. Officials have urged residents to avoid low-lying areas, while emergency teams continue drainage and relief work. The forecast of another wet spell later in the week means the situation could change quickly, especially in upper catchments and river basins.

What remains unclear is how much additional rain will fall and whether river levels will rise further after Wednesday. The number of damaged homes may also increase as assessments continue in the worst-hit districts. For now, authorities are focused on evacuations, relief camps and drainage operations as the monsoon season continues.

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