KARACHI: King Charles III of the United Kingdom has conveyed his condolences to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over the widespread devastation and loss of lives caused by the ongoing monsoon rains in Pakistan, where the death toll has reached 750 since the season began.
The king’s message comes as Pakistan faces one of its deadliest monsoon seasons in recent memory, with erratic and intensified rainfall patterns widely linked by scientists to the impacts of global climate change. While annual rains remain crucial for agriculture and livelihoods, rising temperatures have fueled increasingly destructive floods across South Asia.
In Pakistan, the monsoon began earlier than usual on June 26 but intensified dramatically on August 15, when heavy cloudbursts in the country’s north unleashed flash floods, landslides, and house collapses. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been the hardest-hit province, recording more than 380 fatalities in less than a week.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), at least 43 people lost their lives in the past 24 hours alone due to rain-related incidents nationwide.
Calling the tragedy “heart-breaking,” King Charles expressed solidarity with the victims and their families. “We feel for all those who have lost their loved ones, homes, and livelihoods,” he said in his message, adding that families in the UK with strong ties to Pakistan also share in the grief.
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The king praised the courage of emergency responders, volunteers, and communities working on the front lines, describing their efforts as “a candle in the darkness.” He also offered prayers for the resilience of affected families as they navigate the challenges of recovery and rebuilding.
Meanwhile, the crisis extends beyond northern Pakistan. In Karachi, torrential rains continued for a second consecutive day on Wednesday, flooding major roads and paralyzing daily life. Local officials confirmed 17 fatalities in the city, mostly caused by electrocution and related accidents.