NAROWAL, Pakistan (AP) – On Thursday, rescuers in boats hurried to assist stranded families in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province after three major rivers overflowed due to heavy rainfall and the release of water from dams in neighboring India. The floods have caused substantial destruction, displacing nearly 250,000 people and affecting over 1 million others, with significant damage to crops and businesses.
The Gujranwala district saw the deaths of at least 15 people a day prior, as police reported ongoing casualties. Weather forecasts predicted more rain for Friday, following a two-day break, potentially continuing into the following week. Provincial minister Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed that floods impacted 1,432 villages along the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers, affecting approximately 1.2 million people.
To address the crisis, nearly 700 relief and 265 medical camps have been established in the affected areas, with ongoing deliveries of food and essential supplies. In total, floods have claimed over 800 lives in Pakistan since late June, marking one of the country’s most severe flood emergencies in decades. Simultaneously, Indian-controlled Kashmir's Jammu region has experienced unprecedented rainfall, leading to flash floods and landslides that have claimed at least 115 lives and forced the evacuation of thousands.
The synchronized high floods of the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers have not occurred in 38 years. Rescue operations have been ramped up across various districts, intensifying the urgency of governmental response. Families have expressed frustration at delays in assistance, as exemplified by Zainab Bibi, 54, whose family awaited rescue on their rooftop for two days, following her underestimation of the flood's potential reach. Similarly, farmer Mohammad Saleem, 47, recounted how the encroaching waters rapidly swept away his home and belongings, including his wife Kaneez Bibi's dowry intended for their daughter’s upcoming wedding.
In Punjab province, early mass evacuations were initiated as heavy monsoon rains coupled with water releases from Indian dams exacerbated flooding in low-lying regions. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif highlighted that "timely evacuations" have saved lives, attributing the successful strategies to advance preparations and destruction of illegal structures near waterways, thus minimizing casualties during the disaster.
Nawaz emphasized that no displaced individuals should lack food or medical aid and urged officials to take measures to prevent waterborne diseases in the affected communities. Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, during his visit to Narowal, criticized India for allegedly releasing excessive water from its dams without providing timely warnings, claiming that this act constitutes “water aggression.” He affirmed that the massive water release is a significant factor contributing to the current devastation in Pakistan.
There has been no immediate response from the Indian government regarding these allegations. Floods have also submerged the shrine of Guru Nanak, located near the Indian border, although staff and pilgrims were evacuated swiftly by rescue operations. The flooding situation in Pakistan is reminiscent of the catastrophic floods linked to climate change that claimed nearly 1,700 lives in 2022.
