At least 63 people were killed and 290 injured in 24 hours in Pakistan’s Punjab province as monsoon turned deadly, which started on Wednesday morning. According to the National Disaster Management Authority, most of the victims were killed by collapsed buildings, while the rest either drowned or died from electrocution. On Thursday, authorities in Rawalpindi announced a public holiday and urged people to stay at home. The locals living near the riverside that runs through the city have been asked to evacuate the area as the chances of flooding increase.

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The latest update of deaths brings the nationwide death toll to nearly 180, of which more than half of them are children, since the monsoon began at the end of June. Floods have closed the unified expressways across Punjab, and dozens of flights have been either cancelled or postponed. On Thursday, the province’s Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz, said that a state of emergency has been imposed in many areas and government agencies are working with full effort. CM Punjab on Twitter or X posted and urged citizens to follow safety guidelines. Chakwal city was flooded by 400 mm of rain yesterday.

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Photos and videos show rescue boats searching for people trapped in floodwaters. Flooded areas are being monitored by Military helicopters. The warnings of heavy monsoon rains and floods announced by the Punjab authorities, and thousands of rescuers have been placed on standby across the province. Pakistan, with a population of approximately 250 million, is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. It is affected by two major weather systems, one that can cause high temperatures and drought, while the other brings monsoon rains. Pakistan is also home to more than 13,000 glaciers that are melting at a high speed.