By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: A relentless deluge of monsoon rains has claimed 123 lives across Pakistan’s Punjab province since June 25, with more than half of the fatalities, 71 deaths, occurring in just the last 48 hours, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported on Friday.
The torrential downpours, which have triggered widespread urban flooding and inundated residential areas, have also left 462 people injured, as the province grapples with record rainfall and an escalating humanitarian crisis.
The latest wave of destruction came on Friday, when ten more deaths were recorded across Punjab, according to Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmad. The casualties included three each in Lahore and Chiniot, two in Okara, and one each in Chakwal and Sargodha.
With the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issuing alerts for more heavy rainfall starting July 20, authorities and residents alike are bracing for further devastation. The PDMA has also warned of an imminent high-level flood in the River Indus at Kalabagh and Chashma within the next 24 hours, urging local officials to implement precautionary measures.
PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia, in a briefing on rescue efforts, said more than 1,000 people have been evacuated from flood-ravaged areas in the Pothohar region, including 398 from Jhelum, 209 from Chakwal, and 450 from Rawalpindi.
Among the hardest-hit areas is Chakwal, a district battered by record rainfall over the past three days. Rescue 1122 teams recovered the bodies of two individuals swept away by flash floods on Wednesday night: Tassaduque Hussain, found near Chak Malook village on Friday afternoon, and Abdul Rasheed, 42, located later that evening.
In a separate tragedy near Aara village, 36-year-old Muhamad Zubair was killed when a falling rock caused his roof to collapse, injuring two others. Chakwal’s woes extend beyond the loss of life. Scores of villages remain without power three days after the storms began, with the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) reporting damage to 99 high-tension poles, 48 low-tension poles, and 65 transformers. Iesco Engineer Waheed Ahmed Abbasi told reporters that restoring electricity could take at least 48 hours.
The PMD and PDMA issued fresh alerts on Friday, warning of intensified monsoon currents and a westerly wave that could exacerbate the crisis. Starting July 20, rainfall and thundershowers are expected across Punjab, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Faisalabad, through July 25. The forecast extends to Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Balochistan, with specific districts listed in each region facing similar threats over the coming week.
Authorities have flagged risks of urban flooding in low-lying areas, flash floods in local nullahs and hill torrents, and landslides that could close roads in hilly regions. The PMD cautioned that Chitral, Dir, Swat, and northeast Punjab are particularly vulnerable to flash flooding, while landslides may disrupt access in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, and Kashmir.
The mounting death toll and widespread suffering have fueled outrage in Islamabad, where lawmakers accused the government of failing to prepare despite early meteorological warnings. In a fiery Senate session, PTI Senator Barrister Ali Zafar condemned what he called “unacceptable negligence and incompetence” in the face of a preventable disaster. “The loss of precious lives and the severe hardships faced by the people due to the recent rains are a clear indication of the government’s unacceptable negligence and incompetence,” Zafar said. “Roads and neighborhoods were flooded, people were forced to spend nights on rooftops, and the state machinery remained a silent spectator. This wasn’t just a natural disaster — it was a failure of governance.”
Zafar pointed to a recurring pattern of inaction, questioning the preparedness of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and provincial agencies. “Where were the NDMA and the provincial institutions? Where was the emergency plan? What steps were taken to improve the electricity, water, and sanitation systems? Why was immediate assistance not provided to the victims?” he demanded.
Calling for accountability, Zafar urged the Senate to demand a comprehensive report on the government’s response and establish a special parliamentary committee to investigate and recommend reforms.
“It is not only the right of those who lost their lives, but the constitutional and moral responsibility of the state to protect the life, property, and dignity of every citizen,” he said. “For God’s sake, don’t wait for the next disaster. Reform now so that no mother is forced to search for her child in floodwaters again.”
The Senate’s Deputy Chairman, presiding over the session, promised a detailed discussion on Monday due to a packed agenda but faced pressure from Zafar for immediate action. “The time for debate is over. Don’t wait — act now. Decide on the proposed committee,” Zafar pressed.
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