Heavy Rains Kill 54 in Pakistan as Flood Crisis Deepens

A motorcyclist rides through a flooded road during monsoon rainfall, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Heavy monsoon rains have killed at least 54 people in eastern Pakistan within 24 hours, raising the total rain-related death toll to 178 over the past three weeks, officials said on Thursday.

Flash floods triggered by torrential downpours have inundated villages, as Pakistan records 82% more rainfall this month compared to the same period last year, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department.

Since June 26, 178 deaths have been reported from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan provinces. In the past 24 hours alone, Punjab province recorded 54 fatalities, with rainfall in the region 124% higher than the same period in 2024.

Continued heavy rains flooded streets in major cities, including Rawalpindi and Lahore, while a cloudburst in Punjab’s Jhelum district triggered flash floods, prompting authorities to deploy boats to evacuate dozens of stranded residents.

The National Disaster Management Authority issued an updated flood alert on Thursday and urged local authorities to remain on high alert. Tourists have been advised to avoid travel to affected areas due to the risk of landslides and blocked highways.

Television footage showed army helicopters rescuing a family stranded on the roof of their house after flash floods struck the outskirts of Rawalpindi.

More rain is forecast for Islamabad, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and other regions, the meteorological department said.

Authorities have warned that extreme weather conditions, similar to the devastating 2022 floods that submerged a third of the country and killed over 1,700 people, cannot be ruled out.