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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s disaster management authorities have issued a fresh flood alert as intensified monsoon rains continue to push water levels higher in major rivers, raising concerns over flooding in several parts of the country. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said river flows are expected to increase significantly between August 2 and 4, urging citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to vulnerable areas and remain alert to changing weather conditions. According to the National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC), high flooding has been observed in the Lehri River at Head Gogi, while Nullah Palkhu near Wazirabad is experiencing medium-level flooding. The Indus River is currently witnessing low-level flooding at Kalabagh, Chashma, Guddu and Sukkur, while similar conditions have been reported at Head Nari on the Nari River. The NDMA warned that the Chenab River is likely to experience high water flows at Marala, with low to medium flooding anticipated at Khanki and Qadirabad. Water levels are also expected to rise in the Jhelum, Ravi and Kabul rivers and their tributaries as monsoon activity intensifies. Officials cautioned that streams connected to the Jhelum, Chenab and Ravi rivers could swell to medium or high levels. Meanwhile, water flows in the Ravi and Sutlej rivers will largely depend on releases from reservoirs across the border. The authority also expressed concern over the possibility of flash floods in the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur, as well as seasonal streams in central and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern Balochistan. In addition, urban flooding and waterlogging remain a serious threat in several cities, including Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera, Hyderabad, Badin, Thatta and other parts of Sindh due to continued heavy rainfall. The NDMA advised residents to avoid crossing flooded roads and waterways, monitor weather updates before travelling, and follow safety instructions issued by local authorities. It also encouraged the public to use the official Pak NDMA Disaster Alert mobile application for real-time weather warnings and emergency information. Separately, the Prime Minister’s Emergency Response Committee (ERC) held its 10th consecutive daily review meeting to assess the country’s monsoon situation. The meeting, chaired virtually by Planning Minister Prof Ahsan Iqbal, brought together federal ministries, provincial governments, disaster management authorities and senior administrative officials. During the briefing, the NDMA presented the latest updates on weather conditions, casualties, infrastructure damage, rescue operations and rehabilitation efforts. Officials informed the committee that deputy commissioners in all high-risk districts had already been directed to remain fully prepared for any emergency. The committee was told that recent heavy rains had caused flooding in multiple regions, with coordinated rescue and relief operations continuing through federal, provincial and district authorities. Weather experts also forecast more rainfall across northern and central Pakistan in the coming days, while isolated showers are expected in southeastern Sindh. The NDMA highlighted that relief activities are being carried out with the support of both national and international humanitarian organisations. Officials further noted that most monsoon-related fatalities this season resulted from the collapse of unsafe and poorly constructed buildings, underscoring the need for stricter enforcement of building safety regulations and greater public awareness. The ERC commended the efforts of government institutions, provincial administrations, district authorities, the armed forces and rescue teams for their ongoing response. It directed all relevant departments to strengthen coordination, maintain maximum preparedness, accelerate relief and rehabilitation work, and take preventive measures to minimise the impact of future weather emergencies.

Muzaffargarh: A wedding celebration turned into a tragedy after an overloaded rickshaw carrying members of a wedding party plunged into a canal on Monday evening, leaving at least seven people dead and several others missing. According to rescue officials, the incident occurred when the rickshaw, which was carrying a large number of passengers including women and children, reportedly lost control while travelling along the canal-side road. The vehicle skidded off the road and fell into the water. Local residents and rescue divers immediately launched an operation to search for the passengers. Nine people were rescued alive and shifted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Some of those rescued were reported to be in critical condition. Rescue teams have so far recovered the bodies of seven people. The deceased have been identified as 14-year-old Dilawar, son of Abdul Rasheed; seven-year-old Muneeb, son of Rashid; 58-year-old Sakina Bibi, wife of Allah Ditta; 15-year-old Sameera Bibi, daughter of M Shafiq; M Saim, son of M Iqbal; seven-year-old M Sabtain, son of Musharraf; and nine-year-old Raju, son of M Iqbal. Several passengers are still believed to be missing. Those reported missing include M Bilal, son of M Iqbal; M Yasir, son of Fida Hussain; M Ali, son of M Shafiq; Usman, son of Ghulam Fareed; Shakir, son of Ashiq Hussain; Hassnain, son of Musharraf Ali; Iqbal Bibi, daughter of Fida Hussain; Kaleem Ullah, son of Basheer Ahmad; and Zareef, son of Wazeer Ahmad. The rickshaw was reportedly carrying far more passengers than its permitted capacity, raising concerns about dangerous overloading. Rescue teams continued their search operation on Tuesday as authorities feared the death toll could increase. The incident has cast a pall of grief over the families of the wedding party, with relatives anxiously awaiting information about their loved ones as the recovery operation continues.

  KARACHI: Details have emerged surrounding the discovery of the body of young Karachi businessman Mir Raza, with investigative sources revealing several alleged delays and irregularities in the initial response to the incident. According to investigative sources, information about Mir Raza’s body was received at around 12:36 p.m. on July 29. The body reportedly remained at the scene until approximately 1:45 p.m., before rescue personnel shifted it to Jinnah Hospital shortly before 2 p.m. The sources said that the Crime Scene Unit did not reach the location on the day the body was discovered. Instead, the unit reportedly received information about the body through social media at around 3:11 p.m. According to the initial investigation, the Crime Scene Unit had allegedly been instructed not to visit the location on the day of the incident. The team eventually arrived at the scene the following day. Investigators have raised questions over the delay, particularly because preserving a crime scene is crucial for collecting physical evidence and determining what may have happened. The delay in reaching the location could have affected the availability or condition of potential evidence. Sources further said that personnel responsible for tracking or searching for the device associated with the case were informed approximately 15 minutes after the discovery of the body. However, they reportedly did not reach the location at that time either. The Crime Scene Unit has since visited the site five times as part of the ongoing investigation. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the body and attempting to establish a clear timeline of events. The investigation has also revealed another development concerning the police response before the body was discovered. According to investigative sources, police had received information about a robbery in Gulistan-e-Johar before receiving information regarding the body. Sources said that instead of being directed toward the location where the body was eventually found, police personnel were instructed to remain at the reported robbery site in Gulistan-e-Johar Block 7. The initial investigation suggests that the absence of local police personnel at the location where Mir Raza’s body was found may have contributed to the loss or disturbance of important evidence. Investigators are now examining whether the police response and the delay in the arrival of relevant units affected the collection of forensic material. The sequence of events has raised questions about the handling of the case during the crucial early hours. The period immediately following the discovery of a body is particularly important because physical evidence can be disturbed, removed or contaminated if the area is not properly secured. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mir Raza’s death. Investigators are also working to determine why the Crime Scene Unit was not present at the scene on the day the body was found and why the relevant personnel allegedly failed to reach the location after being informed. The repeated visits by the Crime Scene Unit indicate that investigators are continuing their efforts to gather evidence and reconstruct the events surrounding the case. Meanwhile, questions surrounding the police response and the alleged delays remain an important part of the investigation. Officials will need to establish the reasons behind the instructions given to various teams and determine whether any procedural failures contributed to the loss or disturbance of evidence. The final cause of Mir Raza’s death and the circumstances leading to it will depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation, forensic examination and other available evidence.