By By Micheal Chukwuebuka
TORRENTIAL monsoon rains killed more than 20 people across Pakistan on Wednesday, pushing the nationwide death toll to over 400 in just one week, as authorities struggle to cope with widespread flooding that has swept away villages, destroyed infrastructure, and paralyzed major cities.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said 11 people were killed in the mountainous Gilgit-Baltistan region, a popular tourist destination in the north, while 10 others died in Karachi, the country’s financial hub in the south. The victims in Karachi were largely the result of house collapses and electrocutions triggered by urban flooding.
Stonix News reports that the monsoon season, which typically lasts from July to September, has been particularly devastating this year, with rainfall far exceeding seasonal averages in many regions. Experts warn that climate change is intensifying the monsoon cycle, bringing heavier rains that the country’s fragile infrastructure is ill-equipped to withstand.
In Karachi, home to more than 20 million people, schools were ordered closed for a second day as the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast more downpours through Saturday.
Much of the city was brought to a standstill late Tuesday as rain overwhelmed drainage systems, submerging roads and leaving commuters trapped in rising waters. Widespread power outages compounded the crisis, with entire neighborhoods plunged into darkness.
Amir Hyder Laghari, Sindh province’s chief meteorologist, blamed weak infrastructure for the flooding, saying Karachi’s aging drainage and sewer systems cannot cope with the intensity of recent rains. “The city’s pipes and channels are crumbling, and without major investment, this cycle will repeat with every heavy rainfall,” he said.
Across the country, flash floods have washed away entire villages, leaving thousands homeless and displaced. Rescue teams, backed by the military, have been dispatched to hard-hit rural areas where road networks have collapsed, isolating communities and hampering relief efforts.
Pakistan, a nation of 240 million, has faced repeated monsoon catastrophes in recent years. In 2022, historic floods submerged a third of the country, killed more than 1,700 people, and caused damages estimated at $30 billion.
Despite international pledges of climate aid, recovery and investment in resilient infrastructure have been slow, leaving the country vulnerable to recurring disasters.
Authorities warn that with more rainfall expected in the coming days, the death toll could rise further.
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