LAHORE: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Sunday forecasted three more intense monsoon spells, warning that rainfall could be 50% heavier than usual, heightening the threat of urban flooding in cities including Lahore and Rawalpindi.
Speaking at a press briefing, NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider confirmed that torrential rains have so far claimed 313 lives in Buner, Bajaur, and Battagram, while flash floods and tourist accidents in Gilgit-Baltistan have pushed the death toll to over 400. Search operations for missing persons are ongoing, he added.
He noted that landslides in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have cut off several communities, with relief goods and food supplies being prioritized for the worst-hit districts. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted fresh rains between August 17 and 22, posing flooding risks in Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Gujranwala.
General Inam highlighted that due to intense summer heat, this year’s monsoon has intensified and is expected to continue with greater severity until early September. A survey will be conducted on the Prime Minister’s instructions to assess damages, with communication networks being the first focus of restoration. Relief packages will begin reaching high-casualty districts from Monday.
He further stressed that the devastation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reflects the broader impacts of climate change, requiring a collective national response. Rehabilitation work will begin after the monsoon in coordination with the Ministries of Communications and Housing.
NDMA experts also shared technical updates:
Dr Tayyab Shah said the current spell would last until August 22, with more systems approaching from the Bay of Bengal and Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Kandahar regions.
Zahra Hassan warned of dangerously high water levels, with Tarbela Dam already 98% filled, and rivers in Poonch, Neelum, Bagh (AJK), Peshawar, Chitral, Dir, and Charsadda at risk.
Brigadier Kamran, NDMA Member Operations, noted that despite preventive planning since February, a cloudburst in Buner and Bajaur triggered large-scale destruction. He reported 337 deaths and 178 injuries in the past two days alone, adding that the Army and Frontier Corps are assisting provincial governments in rescue missions. A second batch of federal relief goods will be dispatched to Buner on Monday.
Meanwhile, amid heightened risks of landslides and flash floods, the NDMA has issued a public advisory urging citizens to avoid travel to hilly and disaster-prone areas during the ongoing monsoon season.
