Islamabad, July 25, 2025: Nearly half of the 266 deaths caused by heavier-than-usual monsoon rains in Pakistan have been children, many of whom were on school holidays, officials said on Friday.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) confirmed that 126 of the fatalities were children, as flash floods, lightning strikes, building collapses, and drowning incidents continue to claim lives across the country since the start of the monsoon season on June 26.
In Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, rainfall has been 70% higher than last year, according to Mazhar Hussain of the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
“Children are particularly vulnerable in this situation. With schools and colleges closed for summer holidays, many are playing in floodwaters, bathing, and facing risks like electric shocks,” Hussain told AFP. “This is why their death rate is higher than other age groups.”
A spokeswoman for the NDMA said the current death toll is alarmingly high for July, as such figures are typically reported later in the monsoon season.
“Usually, we see such numbers in August. This year, the impact has been unusually severe and early,” she told AFP.
The NDMA has warned of intensifying rains in August, raising further concerns about safety and preparedness.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, a landslide triggered by torrential rains swept away several vehicles earlier this week. The mountainous region, popular with tourists, has seen multiple weather-related tragedies. In late June, at least 13 tourists died after being swept away by flash floods while taking shelter on a raised riverbank.
Pakistan’s monsoon season, which runs from late June to September, delivers 70–80% of the region’s annual rainfall, crucial for agriculture and food security. However, the rains also bring widespread destruction each year.
In 2022, catastrophic monsoon floods submerged nearly one-third of the country, leaving 1,700 people dead and displacing millions.
