Heavy monsoon rains continue to batter Pakistan, claiming 13 more lives in the past 24 hours taking the death toll to 216 since June 26.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reports that the torrential downpours have caused widespread flooding and structural collapses, with many deaths attributed to the collapse of poorly constructed homes.

Twelve of the latest fatalities occurred in Punjab, and one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Among the victims were four children and three women. The total death toll includes 101 children. Over 580 people have been injured, including 227 men, 163 women, and 192 children.

The NDMA attributes the deaths to collapsed homes, flash floods, lightning strikes, drowning, and landslides. Nearly 800 homes have been destroyed, and approximately 200 livestock have drowned. Rescue and relief efforts are underway, but with more rain forecast, authorities urge citizens, particularly those in flood-prone areas, to take precautions.

According to the NDMA, the death toll is 135 in Punjab, 42 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 21 in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan, and one each in Islamabad and Azad Kashmir. The monsoon season, while crucial for agriculture, has been exacerbated by rapid urbanization, inadequate drainage, and increasingly extreme weather events linked to climate change.