Lahore: More than 24,000 residents have been evacuated from vulnerable areas of Pakistan’s Punjab as authorities brace for heavy flooding along the Indus, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a high flood alert following continuous monsoon rains, Dawn reported.
Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmad confirmed that evacuations began on Saturday, with thousands moved to safer locations from riverbank settlements. Authorities warned that the rivers, already witnessing low to high flooding, could swell further in the next 48 hours due to ongoing torrential rains in upstream catchment areas.
A critical warning was issued at Harike on the Sutlej River, where upstream and downstream zones were declared to be at risk of high-level flooding. Similarly, the National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) raised an alert for the Ravi River, predicting medium-level floods within two days.
Officials noted that India’s High Commission in Islamabad had informed Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry about possible flooding risks, stressing that the warning was shared purely on humanitarian grounds.
In response, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed immediate evacuation from riverine and low-lying areas, urging citizens to cooperate with rescue teams as heavy rains continue.
According to UN News, the adverse weather is forecast to persist into early September, raising the possibility of landslides, crop losses, and further displacement. Pakistan’s monsoon floods have historically caused widespread destruction. In 2022, unprecedented deluges claimed more than 1,700 lives, displaced millions, and inflicted damages worth an estimated USD 40 billion.
The monsoon season, lasting from June to September, remains one of Pakistan’s most devastating natural challenges, often leading to fatalities, infrastructure collapse, and mass displacement, especially in densely populated or poorly drained regions.
