Monsoon disaster in Pakistan: 21 people dead, hundreds rescued as floods strike

At least 21 people have died in the past 24 hours as monsoon-triggered flash floods and landslides swept across Pakistan, pushing this year’s rain-related death toll to 242.

The worst-hit area is Gilgit-Baltistan, where a cloudburst on Tuesday killed three and stranded more than 200 tourists—who were later rescued. Local authorities say up to 20 others remain missing as search operations continue, with military helicopters on standby.

On Monday, four more tourists were killed and 15 disappeared in the same region. In neighbouring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, at least 10 people, including six children, died—most from collapsing homes.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned that the current spell of severe rains, the fourth of the season, is expected to last until the 25 July. Landslide alerts have been issued across the north, including in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Officials say the rains are more intense than last year’s deadly season. In 2022, unprecedented floods killed nearly 1,700 people and displaced more than 30 million. This year, much of the country is still recovering, with glacial lake outburst risks adding to the crisis.

Pakistan’s meteorological agency has forecast more widespread storms in the days ahead. As rescue teams work around the clock, authorities urge the public—especially tourists—to take warnings seriously.

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