26 killed, 62 injured as torrential rains hit central Punjab

Unrelenting monsoon rains wreaked havoc across Punjab on Tuesday night, resulting in the deaths of 26 people and injuries to at least 62 others as fragile rooftops collapsed and lightning strikes triggered chaos across multiple districts.

In Lahore alone, two separate roof collapse incidents in Raiwind claimed five lives, while another collapse in Mission Colony took three more, including 70-year-old Nasreen, 8-year-old Meerab, and 80-year-old Basheer. A young man, 21-year-old Fareed, was rescued alive from the rubble. The victims were taken to THQ Hospital Raiwind. Another tragic collapse occurred in Kot Jamal Pura, Lahore, where one man died and three others were pulled out injured from the debris. A mother and daughter died after the roof of a house collapsed in the Shafiqabad area of Lahore. The deceased include Iman Bibi and 8-year-old Fiza, while 12-year-old Sahar was injured after being buried under the rubble and has been shifted to the hospital.

In Faisalabad, 6 people were killed and 36 injured in 23 roof collapse incidents, while roads were submerged in more than 20 places due to heavy rains in the city.

In Pakpattan, 11 incidents of roof and wall collapse due to rains were reported, in which 2 children and a woman died, while 17 people were injured.

In Okara, a total of three people, including a child were died due to a roof collapse and lightning in the Naeemabad area. On Gamber-Milgadda Road in village 52/5L, a 12-year-old boy, Habibullah, son of Aziz, died after a roof collapsed due to the heavy downpour. His siblings, Tahira Bibi (14) and Sajjad (19), sustained injuries.

In Malka Hans, a woman died and three others were critically injured when a house roof gave way under the weight of the rain. Rescue teams swiftly transported them to the district hospital.

Muridke also reported several rain-induced incidents. In Ahdiyaan, a young girl, Minahil bint Gulfam, was injured in a roof collapse. A separate traffic accident involving a rickshaw and several motorcycles left eight injured: Three critically injured individuals were shifted to Lahore.

Jaranwala’s Chak 534 GB witnessed the collapse of a residential roof in the SIM Quarter area, injuring three sisters—25-year-old Samira, 17-year-old Sawera, and 14-year-old Humaira.

In Nankana Sahib, a 45-year-old man named Iqbal was injured when the veranda roof of his house in Jaslani Mor village caved in.

The relentless rainfall across the province, including in Sahiwal, Bahawalnagar, and Muzaffargarh, has exposed the fragility of infrastructure in rural and semi-urban areas. Authorities have urged residents of vulnerable structures to relocate temporarily and take necessary precautions, as the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasts continued monsoon activity until at least July 17.

--Amount of rainfall recorded in different cities--

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Lahore and Okara received 170 millimetres each, and Chichawatni received 130 millimetres of rain. Sheikhupura received the highest amount of rainfall during the last 24 hours, totalling 217 millimetres.

The Met Office forecasted rains, accompanied by strong winds, would lash Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Multan, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Gujrat, Sialkot, Toba Tek Singh, Jhelum, Attock, Chakwal, Murree, Galyat, Mianwali, Narowal, Mandi Bahauddin and Dera Ghazi Khan during the next 24 hours.

--Flooding in Punjab cities--

A powerful monsoon system continues to batter the country, causing flooding in several cities across Punjab. In Faisalabad, low-lying areas were submerged overnight, bringing life to a halt.

--Lahore receives 171 mm rain--

The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has published a comprehensive rainfall report in the aftermath of the recent intense monsoon showers that swept across Lahore. 

The data reveals that Pani Wala Talab, Walled City, experienced the highest rainfall, recording an extraordinary 171 mm, which resulted in substantial water accumulation. 

Other areas facing significant downpours include Iqbal Town (169 mm), Tajpura (167 mm), Upper Mall (162 mm), and Farukhabad (157 mm). 

Additionally, Mughalpura recorded 135 mm, Lakshmi Chowk 133 mm, and Gulshan-e-Ravi 122 mm.

Rainfall levels in Nishtar Town and Chowk Nakhda reached 102 mm and 120 mm, respectively, while Samanabad registered 149.5 mm.

Moderate to heavy rainfall was also observed at various other locations across the city. 

WASA’s head office in Gulberg recorded 82 mm, Jail Road saw 75.9 mm, and the airport registered 75.8 mm. 

Johar Town experienced 79 mm of rain, while Qurtaba Chowk reported 90 mm. 

WASA teams remain on the ground working to mitigate the impact, as residents have been urged to stay cautious with further rainfall anticipated in the coming days.

--Sindh, KP, G-B & AJK lashed by rain--

The Meteorological Department reported torrential rainfall in Hyderabad and other parts of Sindh, including Badin, Sujawal, and Tando Allahyar.

Similar rain activity was observed in parts of KP, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The monsoon system is expected to persist until July 17, with more rain forecasted across the country.

--Islamabad’s thunderstorm alert--

Early morning clouds hovered over the capital, with the Met Office predicting thunderous rain for today. The maximum temperature in Islamabad is expected to reach 28°C, with humidity at 88% and winds blowing at 13 km/h throughout the day. Citizens have been advised to take safety precautions.

--Rain expected in Karachi tonight--

In Karachi, partly cloudy skies and high humidity have created a stifling atmosphere. The Met Office forecasted light drizzle for tonight, with chances of thunderstorms and moderate to heavy rainfall between July 18 and 20.

The current temperature stands at 30°C, with a "feels-like" temperature of 34°C. Winds from the west are blowing at 10 km/h, and humidity levels are above 70%.

--Flood threats rising as rivers swell--

With torrential monsoon rains and swift melting of glaciers, several parts of the country are witnessing a concerning increase in water levels. 

At various vital locations along the Indus River, officials have confirmed low-level flood conditions, notably at Tarbela, Chashma Barrage, and Taunsa. 

Similarly, heavy downpours over the Koh-e-Suleiman mountain range have resulted in flash flooding within the rivers and streams of Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan.

Many residents of low-lying areas of Taunsa and Layyah, alarmed by the threat of rising flood levels, have initiated evacuation efforts.

Besides, a significant 20-foot-wide breach has been reported in the Bambli Minor Canal near Qalati Gabol village in the Khanpur Mahar area of Ghotki. 

No immediate action has been taken by the Irrigation Department despite repeated warnings, which has led the residents to initiate their own efforts to seal the canal breach.

As the Indus River at Guddu Barrage shows a significant rise in water levels over the last 24 hours, the flood situation in Kashmore continues to deteriorate. 

According to the Control room, a medium-level flood has been sustained for three consecutive days, with forecasts indicating further escalation. 

As per the recent data, Guddu Barrage is currently witnessing an inflow of 382,117 cusecs, while the outflow is recorded at 343,922 cusecs.

Meanwhile, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has released a report stating that 124 people have been killed and 264 injured across Pakistan due to monsoon rains, as reported by 24News HD Channel on Wednesday. 

The NDMA said that Punjab suffered the highest number of injuries, with 158 people wounded. In Punjab, 49 people lost their lives, including 28 children.  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 38 deaths and 57 injuries, while Sindh recorded 20 deaths and 40 injuries. 

In Balochistan, 16 people died and 4 were injured. One person was reported dead in Azad Kashmir. Most of the victims were children, and heavy rainfall has been identified as the main cause of the fatalities. The report also mentions that 26 houses were partially damaged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while some houses were also damaged in Punjab, Sindh, and Azad Kashmir. 

Nine cattle were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but no cattle loss was reported in Balochistan, Sindh, or Punjab. In the last 24 hours, more than 35 houses have been damaged across the country due to the heavy rains. 

Reporters: Farhan Yamin, Abid Ch, Imran Aslam, Ramsha Ismail, Hashir Waraich, Mir Zafarullah, Kalim Akhtar, Rana Zaman, Shehzad Hanif, Ahmad Arsalan, Haji M Abbas and Zubair Ahmad