Cloudbursts in Pakistan: A Climate Disaster Made Worse

 

On 15 August, a sudden cloudburst tore through the mountains of Buner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In minutes, lush fields and stone houses were gone. Villagers say it felt as if “some chemical had exploded” in the sky. Whole streams turned into walls of water, sweeping away everything in their path.

Why are cloudbursts happening?

Cloudbursts are not new. But scientists explain they are now more frequent because rising temperatures hold more moisture in the air. When clouds can no longer contain it, the release comes as an explosive downpour. In Pakistan, the monsoon system has grown unstable. Rains that once followed seasonal patterns now arrive with erratic intensity.

Dr. Fahad Saeed, a climate scientist at Climate Analytics, told Al Jazeera last year that Pakistan is “at the frontlines of climate change.” He explained that global warming has supercharged the South Asian monsoon, making extreme events such as cloudbursts and glacial floods more destructive.

How badly is Pakistan affected?

Pakistan contributes less than 1% to global greenhouse gas emissions, yet it ranks among the top ten most climate-vulnerable countries, according to the Global Climate Risk Index. The evidence is visible:

• In 2022, historic floods displaced 33 million people and caused over $30 billion in damages.

• Glaciers in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral are melting faster than expected, feeding flash floods.

• Now, sudden cloudbursts are wiping out entire villages in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The government admits it lacks resources to prepare for these disasters. Most rural homes are still built near riverbanks and streams. When the water surges, they stand no chance.

Life after the floods

In Buner, hundreds of people have died. Many more are missing. Nazari, a 70-year-old farmer, says: “Everything has been destroyed. The crops are gone. Even the grass is no longer there.”

The villagers grieve not only for the dead but for their lost livelihoods. Wheat fields, vegetable farms, and livestock—all washed away. Many have little understanding of climate change. For them, this was an act of fate. But the science tells a harder truth: the crisis is man-made, and Pakistan is bearing the cost.

The bigger picture

Each year brings warnings from meteorologists. Each year, disasters strike harder. Pakistan’s tragedy lies in the gap between its tiny contribution to global warming and its massive share of the consequences.

The people of Buner may rebuild, but another cloudburst could arrive tomorrow. And the world must ask: how long can countries like Pakistan carry the burden of a crisis they did not create?

Reporting references: TRT World, Al Jazeera, Global Climate Risk Index 2024.