Summary Monsoon rains triggered flooding across Pakistan, washing away vehicles, damaging homes and schools, disrupting road links and raising fears of flash floods in several regions.
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Torrential monsoon rains triggered flooding in several parts of Pakistan on Saturday, sweeping away vehicles, damaging public infrastructure and disrupting transport links, while authorities warned of further heavy rainfall and flash floods in the coming days.
In Khyber district, flash floods swept away two vehicles at different locations. Women and children travelling in the vehicles were rescued, while police said three people remained missing. Another car was caught in floodwaters near Zakaria Mosque in the Khuga Khel area, but all occupants were rescued safely.
Water levels continued to rise in the Chenab River at Head Qadirabad in Hafizabad, where inflows reached 138,000 cusecs and outflows stood at 115,000 cusecs, resulting in low-level flooding.
In Layyah, powerful currents in the Indus River washed away two government schools in the Samran Sheeb area. River erosion has so far damaged hundreds of acres of farmland, around 300 houses, more than five settlements, three mosques, electricity poles and other public infrastructure.
Heavy rains also destroyed the Kohliya Bridge near Hasan Abdal, cutting off road access between several border villages in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and leaving residents facing significant travel difficulties.
In Azad Kashmir's Neelum Valley, a cloudburst triggered flash floods in streams, inundating houses and shops. Several vehicles and motorcycles were swept away near Mengal Nala, while livestock were also lost in the floodwaters. Traffic on the main Neelum Highway was disrupted.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast widespread rain and thunderstorms across parts of the country until July 25, warning of possible urban flooding in low-lying areas and rising water levels in rivers and streams through July 23.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), an intense monsoon system is expected to bring heavy rainfall through July 23, increasing the risk of flash floods and hill torrents in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and Punjab.
The NDMA also warned of possible flooding in the upper reaches of the Chenab River at Marala and the Jhelum River near Mangla, as well as flash floods in streams flowing through Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Bhimber and Muridke. Authorities further cautioned that heavy rainfall could trigger flooding in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Murree and the Galiyat, while high water levels are also expected in the Kabul River and its tributaries, particularly in Panjkora, Swat and Chitral.
