ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Heavy monsoon rains across Punjab have claimed *18 lives—including **11 children, three women, and four men*—and injured dozens, prompting urgent warnings about urban flooding in several major cities.
Monsoon Snapshot
According to the *Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), rainfall was recorded in numerous districts over the past 24 hours, such as **Murree, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Attock, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Hafizabad, Chakwal, and Dera Ghazi Khan. The current monsoon season has also led to **57 reported injuries* and damage to *27 houses*, mainly caused by the collapse of structurally weak dwellings.
“The first monsoon spell will continue until July 1,” said PDMA Director General *Irfan Ali Kathia, adding that **all rivers and barrages in the province currently have normal water flow, though “there remains a risk of urban flooding in **Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala*.” ([apnews.com][1], [dawn.com][2])
Two fatalities were caused by lightning strikes in *Khanewal and Okara, and two children were electrocuted in **Mandi Bahauddin*. Most deaths resulted from collapsing houses damaged by heavy rainfall.
️ Preparedness and Response
PDMA confirmed that *all emergency arrangements are in place, including relief camps, monitoring systems, and **financial assistance for affected families*, per government directives.
Prime Minister *Shehbaz Sharif* expressed condolences for the rain-related fatalities and instructed officials to *strengthen safety measures near rivers and streams*. He emphasized the importance of heeding weather advisories as rainfall is expected to persist.
Broader Rainfall Context
This recent wave is part of a broader pattern:
* In the past week, *46 people* died nationwide due to monsoon and pre-monsoon rains, including *22 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, **13 in Punjab, **7 in Sindh, and **4 in Balochistan*, with many tourists swept away in Swat River flash floods
* A previous surge killed *32 people*, half of them children, with another family swept away near Swat—highlighting vulnerabilities in emergency response
* Earlier Punjab-only rainfall killed *14 people—including five children—with **43 injured* between June 25–28
What Lies Ahead
Meteorologists expect heavy monsoon showers to persist through early July. Urban areas—especially *Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala*—face heightened flood risks due to inadequate drainage infrastructure.
PDMA’s DG *Irfan Ali Kathia* warned citizens to follow official guidelines and stay alert: “Flood relief camps have been set up … the PDMA Control Room and District Emergency Operation Centres are monitoring the situation 24/7.”