Monsoon rain killed 299, including 140 children, since June 26 in Pakistan: NDMA

 At least 299 people, including 140 children, have lost their lives, and 715 others among them 239 children — have been injured in flash floods and torrential rains that have swept through vulnerable areas of the country since June 26, according to the latest figures issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), PTV reported.

A total of 299 people were killed, including 140 children, 102 men, and 57 women, according to the data. Among the 715 injured, 239 were children, 204 were women and 272 were men sustained injuries.

Since June 26, flash floods and torrential rains have caused widespread destruction, damaging a total of 1,676 houses across the affected areas.

Of these, 562 homes were destroyed, while 1,114 sustained partial damage. The severe weather also led to the loss of 428 livestock, compounding the impact on local communities.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has carried out 223 extensive rescue operations, successfully evacuating 2,880 individuals from flood-hit regions.

Commuters wade through a flooded street after heavy monsoon rains in Lahore. AFP

Separately, all leaves for Rescue 1122 personnel in Rawalpindi have been cancelled as part of emergency preparations for the expected monsoon spell beginning on Aug.5. Pre-deployments at key locations across the district have also been completed.

Earlier, more cloudburst-induced floods have hit Ghizer and Hunza districts in northern areas, causing widespread destruction.

According to the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA), the heavy rainfall led to flooding in Khatam village in Ghizer’s Gupis Valley, blocking the Ghizer-Shandur Road and damaging agricultural land and private properties.

Commuters wade through a flooded street after heavy monsoon rains in Lahore. AFP

The floodwaters also caused significant damage to the irrigation channel in Ghalapan village in Gojal, upper Hunza, which provides water for over 50,000 forest trees, according to residents.

The GB government has declared 37 villages across the region as calamity-hit areas. According to a notification issued by the GB Home and Prisons Department, the affected areas include 12 villages in Diamer, nine in Gilgit, five in Ghizer, four each in Skardu and Shigar, two in Ghanche, and one each in Nagar and Kharmang.

GB government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq said in a statement that the recent floods across GB have caused an estimated Rs20 billion in damages. The floods have destroyed infrastructure, homes, agricultural land and public utilities.

Tariq Butt / NNI News Service