The Media Line: Floods in Punjab Kill 30, Force Evacuation of Nearly Half a Million  

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Floods in Punjab Kill 30, Force Evacuation of Nearly Half a Million  

By The Media Line Staff  

Floodwaters surging through Pakistan’s Punjab province have killed 30 people and displaced hundreds of thousands, authorities said Saturday, as rivers swollen by record monsoon rains and upstream releases from India inundated vast areas of farmland and villages.  

The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported that more than 1.5 million people have been affected by the flooding, with 2,308 villages under water. “A total of 1.516 million people have been impacted while 481,000 trapped residents were rescued to safer places,” Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed said. He noted that 511 relief camps, 351 medical posts and 321 veterinary facilities have been established, with about 405,000 animals also relocated. Compensation for families and farmers will be arranged under provincial directives, he added.  

The National Disaster Management Authority warned the Indus River could reach very high flood levels at Guddu and Sukkur barrages by September 4–5. Since June 26, more than 830 people have died in flood-related incidents across Pakistan, the agency said.  

Flood forecasting officials reported extremely high levels on the Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala and on the Ravi at Balloki, with the Chenab at Trimmu expected to surge within a day. PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said 303,000 cusecs of water were flowing at Ganda Singh, where troops evacuated 20 villages overnight.  

Relief convoys with food rations have been sent to hard-hit districts including Sialkot and Narowal, with further supplies headed to Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Chiniot and Jhang. Meteorologists warned the ninth wave of monsoon rains will continue until September 2, bringing additional downpours to parts of Punjab.