Pakistan is reeling from catastrophic monsoon flooding that has claimed more than 350 lives in just 72 hours, according to the country’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Since the rainy season began on June 26, the death toll has surpassed 650, with more than 180 others injured. Rescue operations remain underway but were temporarily stalled on Monday as relentless rainfall hampered relief efforts.
Officials said the majority of deaths were caused by flash floods in the mountainous northern region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while others resulted from lightning strikes and the collapse of homes. Entire communities have been swept away, with homes, shops, and roads destroyed by the fast-moving waters and landslides. Aerial images from Buner district showed entire neighborhoods submerged in sludge and debris.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered condolences to victims’ families, pledging full government support. “The Government is mobilising all resources for rescue and relief operations,” he wrote on X. Still, many residents say aid has been slow to arrive. In Rawalpindi, factory owner Mohammad Shabbir told Reuters that nine feet of floodwater had destroyed homes and livelihoods, yet “no one from the government has checked on us or offered help.” Others echoed similar frustration, accusing authorities of neglecting vulnerable communities.
The government insists it has sufficient resources to manage the crisis and has declined foreign aid at this stage. However, memories of Pakistan’s 2022 floods — which submerged a third of the country, killed or injured more than 15,000 people, and displaced 8 million — have heightened concerns about the country’s long-term disaster preparedness.
Pakistan is ranked among the most disaster-prone countries globally, facing high exposure to flooding and cyclones. Climate experts warn that climate change is amplifying extreme monsoon rainfall, with a 2022 World Weather Attribution study linking warming temperatures to more intense downpours. For now, as rescue and recovery continue, countless families are left struggling to survive, with many having lost everything they owned.