Rawalpindi: Torrential rains in Pakistan's Punjab province have resulted in the deaths of at least 63 people and injuries to 290 within the last 24 hours since the downpours began on Wednesday morning. Most victims were crushed by collapsing buildings, while others drowned or were electrocuted.

According to BBC, authorities in Rawalpindi, a city adjacent to the capital Islamabad, declared Thursday a public holiday to keep residents indoors. People living near a swelling river in the area have been advised to evacuate. In Chakwal, a city that experienced 400mm of rainfall in just one day, rescue operations are underway with boats searching for individuals stranded in floodwaters. Military helicopters are also deployed over severely flooded regions.

Punjab authorities have issued warnings about the possibility of more rains and flash floods expected throughout the weekend, with thousands of rescuers on standby across the province. Pakistan, home to nearly 250 million people, is one of the countries most susceptible to climate change, facing significant challenges from two major weather systems—one causing high temperatures and drought, and the other bringing monsoon rains.

Pakistan also hosts over 13,000 glaciers that are melting at a rapid rate. In 2022, monsoon floods submerged a third of the country, resulting in 1,700 fatalities and causing economic damages exceeding $30 billion. In 2023, the United Nations Secretary-General urged the international community to assist Pakistan in recovering from the devastating floods, highlighting that the country is "doubly victimised" by climate change and a "morally bankrupt" global financial system.