Severe monsoon flooding in eastern Pakistan has displaced nearly 500,000 people, as relentless rains since June have swollen rivers to unprecedented levels, impacting over 1.5 million residents.
The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported 835 deaths nationwide, with 195 in Punjab alone, marking this as one of the deadliest monsoon seasons in recent history.
Rescue operations, described as the largest in Punjab’s history, are underway to evacuate stranded families and livestock from affected areas.
In Punjab, the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers overflowed simultaneously for the first time in Pakistan’s history, flooding over 2,300 villages.
Nabeel Javed, head of Punjab’s relief services, confirmed that 481,000 people and 405,000 livestock have been evacuated.
Over 800 boats and 1,300 rescue personnel are deployed, primarily in rural areas near the riverbanks.
Irfan Ali Khan, head of the PDMA, emphasized the scale of the operation, stating, “This is the biggest rescue operation in Punjab’s history.”
The floods have caused significant destruction, particularly in rural communities.
In Shahdara, near Lahore, families have sought refuge in schools after their homes were submerged.
More than 500 relief camps have been established to shelter displaced families and their livestock.
Continuous rains, including in Lahore where a housing development was half-submerged, have worsened conditions.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasts more rain, raising fears of further damage.
Residents like Safdar Munir, a farmer in Kasur, reported losing crops and belongings, stating, “We are pulling out our cattle as there is no fodder to feed our livestock.”
In Shahdara, Tabassum Suleman, a 40-year-old cleaner, described the plight of displaced families: “Everyone has lost everything. Their homes are gone, their belongings destroyed.”
The ongoing crisis echoes the 2022 floods that submerged a third of Pakistan, highlighting the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather.