Pakistan is currently grappling with severe flooding, exacerbated by relentless monsoon downpours and significant water releases from Indian-controlled dams. As of August 26, 2025, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has reported a tragic toll of over 800 lives lost nationwide, with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bearing the brunt of the devastation.
The situation has been critically worsened by India's decision to open all gates of major dams in the Kashmir region, a move that has led to substantial water releases into rivers flowing into Pakistan. This has prompted the evacuation of at least 150,000 people from Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, as authorities brace for further inundation. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued urgent flood warnings, highlighting rising water levels in key rivers and alerting low-lying areas across Punjab to the imminent threat of urban flooding.
A particularly devastating event occurred in Pakistan's Buner district, where a rare and intense cloudburst unleashed over 150 mm of rain in a single hour. This extreme weather phenomenon triggered flash floods that have claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed numerous homes, leaving many communities in disarray with individuals still unaccounted for.
The monsoon season, which began on June 26, has seen an intensification of rainfall, with some reports indicating that the current spell could rival the catastrophic floods of 2022. The NDMA has warned of a high flood alert for the Ravi River, following water releases from India's Thein Dam. Similarly, the Chenab and Sutlej rivers are experiencing high flood levels, with exceptional flows reported on the Chenab River at Marala, exceeding 900,000 cusecs. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has also issued a significant flood warning for the Chenab River, anticipating exceptional high flood levels.
Historically, Pakistan's climate is characterized by significant inter-annual rainfall variability, often leading to cycles of floods and droughts, with El Niño being a notable influence on these patterns. Recent trends suggest an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including flash floods and cloudbursts, particularly in mountainous areas like Buner. The agricultural sector has also been severely impacted, with thousands of acres of farmland destroyed. The United Nations has released emergency relief funds to support the ongoing response efforts, as health facilities report a surge in waterborne diseases and other health issues.