At least 160 people have lost their lives in northern Pakistan over the past 24 hours due to relentless monsoon rains that unleashed landslides, flash floods, and roof collapses, authorities confirmed on Friday.

The majority of the fatalities, 110, occurred in the rugged province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), with an additional seven deaths reported in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, exacerbating the region’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported that cloudbursts, flash floods, and collapsing structures have wreaked havoc across the province. “So far, across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, more than 110 people have died due to cloudbursts, flash floods, and roof collapses,” PDMA spokesperson Anwar Shehzad told Agence France-Presse (AFP). An additional 60 people have been injured, with the districts of Buner, Bajaur, Mansehra, and Battagram declared disaster zones due to the scale of destruction.

In Bajaur, a tribal district bordering Afghanistan, scenes of grief unfolded as mourners gathered around an excavator clearing mud-soaked hills. AFP photographs captured families holding funeral prayers in a nearby paddock, with bodies draped in blankets, a somber testament to the tragedy. In Pakistan-administered Kashmir, rescuers worked tirelessly to recover bodies from mud and debris left by flash floods, underscoring the widespread devastation.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department issued an urgent heavy rain alert for northwest Pakistan, warning residents to avoid vulnerable areas and limit exposure to flood-prone zones. The torrential rains, described as “unusual” by authorities, have already claimed over 320 lives nationwide since the summer monsoon began, with nearly half of the victims being children. Most deaths have been attributed to collapsing homes, flash floods, and electrocutions, particularly in poorly constructed buildings unable to withstand the deluge.

Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province with nearly 255 million residents, has been severely impacted, recording 73% more rainfall in July compared to the previous year. This surge has led to a higher death toll than the entire 2024 monsoon season. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that the monsoon, which typically runs from June to late September, has caused widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and farmlands, displacing thousands and raising fears of food security challenges.

The catastrophic 2022 monsoon floods, which submerged a third of Pakistan and killed 1,700 people, serve as a stark reminder of the country’s vulnerability to climate-driven disasters. Scientists warn that climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of such extreme weather events, placing Pakistan—one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations—under increasing strain.

Emergency response teams are deployed across affected districts, racing against time to rescue trapped residents and deliver critical humanitarian aid, including food, clean water, and shelter. The NDMA and provincial authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant, with forecasts predicting continued heavy rainfall in the coming days. As rescue operations intensify, the government faces mounting pressure to address the immediate needs of displaced families and implement long-term measures to mitigate the growing threat of climate-fueled disasters.

The tragedy in northern Pakistan highlights the urgent need for global action on climate change, as communities bear the brunt of increasingly unpredictable and destructive weather patterns. With more rain expected, authorities are bracing for further challenges in a region already pushed to the brink. (ILKHA)