Over 50 Dead in Heavy Rains in Pakistan

More than 50 people have been killed in northern Pakistan following flash floods and landslides caused by heavy monsoon rains, according to the country’s disaster management authorities on Friday.

The majority of fatalities occurred in the mountainous province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 43 people lost their lives, provincial disaster management officials confirmed. In the Pakistan-administered region of Kashmir, seven deaths were reported.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a fresh warning of further heavy rainfall in the northwestern regions, urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel in high-risk areas.

Monsoon rains account for roughly 70 to 80 percent of South Asia’s annual precipitation, providing vital water for agriculture and food security.

However, they also bring destruction and loss of life. In 2022, catastrophic flooding during the monsoon season inundated one-third of Pakistan’s territory, killing around 1,700 people.

Authorities have deployed emergency teams to the affected regions, where many remain trapped under debris from collapsed homes. Rescue operations are ongoing as forecasters predict more rain in the coming days.