Pakistan: Death toll from heavy rains rises to 221
Floods wash away tourist vehicles; five dead, dozens missing
Islamabad, Hilal Ahmad, July 22, AZERTAC
In Pakistan, the death toll from the ongoing monsoon spell has risen to 221, with five more fatalities reported in the last 24 hours, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Torrential rains have caused widespread destruction across the country. In northern Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region, landslides and flash floods swept away vehicles, killing five tourists and leaving many others missing.
The overall fatalities include 77 men, 40 women, and 104 children, with Punjab province alone accounting for 135 of the deaths. The most recent casualties include two men and three children. Ten others were injured in rain-related incidents in the past day. A total of 592 people have been injured since the onset of the monsoon.
According to rescue officials, floods washed away numerous tourist vehicles in the Babusar area of Gilgit-Baltistan. Five bodies have been recovered, and the injured have been taken to a local hospital. Hundreds of stranded tourists have been rescued and provided shelter by local residents.
Police officials said the situation in the region remains critical due to the intensity of the flooding. Many vehicles were swept away with passengers still inside. Rescue teams are working to locate the missing individuals.
Flash floods have also damaged dozens of residential homes, agricultural land, and roads in Gilgit-Baltistan. In Punjab, authorities have issued flood alerts for the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers, warning of medium to high-level flows through July 23 due to continued heavy rainfall.
The NDMA confirmed that tourists stranded at various locations in Gilgit-Baltistan have been evacuated. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast a fresh spell of monsoon rains lasting until July 25, warning of further flood risks.
So far, over 221 people have lost their lives as a result of the ongoing monsoon rains across Pakistan.
Other news in this section
