Nearly 150,000 residents across Pakistan’s Punjab province have been evacuated following alarming flood warnings caused by India’s controlled release of water into Sutlej and Ravi rivers, officials confirmed today. Reuters. Geo News After receiving early alerts from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) initiated widespread evacuation efforts across several vulnerable districts – Bahawalnagar, Kasur, Okara Pakpattan Bahawalpur Vehari According to National Disaster Management Authority figures, about 89,868 residents were moved from Bahawalnagar, 14,140 from Kasur, 2,063 from Okara, 873 from Pakpattan and 361 from Bahawalpur; another 165 people quickly relocated themselves after receiving warnings. Its Telegraph India +10 Arab News +10 During these events alone around 40,000 individuals relocated themselves quickly after initial warnings from authorities were given; as reported by Telegraph India. Arab News | Dawn. This mass evacuation was caused by rising rivers–Sutlej has reached very high flood stage at multiple points while Ravi and its tributaries such as Basantar, Bein and Deg are experiencing medium to high flooding levels. Aaj English TV (Geo News), Geo News and Diplomatic Insight are reporting such flooding conditions. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif issued instructions to ensure timely and comprehensive evacuation of affected residents from riverside communities and low-lying areas, while also issuing stay-at-home orders for riverbank communities and low-lying areas. Public advisories have also been broadcast via radio, TV, mobile alerts and the NDMA Disaster Alert app (Aaj English TV +3; Geo News +3 and Diplomatic Insight +3) Emergency response teams have been activated, with all relevant departments including civil administration, police, army and disaster management agencies on high alert in Lahore, Sahiwal Multan Bahawalpur Dera Ghazi Khan Narowal etc. For instance Aaj English TV; Dawn; Dunya News are broadcasting updates. India issued an unprecedented humanitarian warning that extra water released due to heavy monsoon rains and dam overflow could flood across Pakistan’s border into rivers feeding Pakistan’s Punjab province, prompting this unprecedented evacuation. Although sensitive diplomatically, this message was spread outside official treaty channels. mes Reuters and Telegraph India both report this development. +2 The cross-border flow has further escalated the longstanding tension surrounding India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty earlier this year, creating an intensified cross-border flood. Pakistan relies heavily on rivers like Ravi and Sutlej for agriculture and irrigation purposes and faces critical risks if flooding disrupts this water supply source. Reuters + Al Jazeera. As part of their economic coordination committee’s response, Pakistan also approved $10.8 million (Rs 3 billion) emergency funding for relief, infrastructure repair and support of flood-affected families residing mainly in Gilgit-Baltistan and Punjab. Arab News This comes on the heels of an unprecedented monsoon season marked by record rainfall, glacial melt and flash flooding that has already claimed 771 lives across Pakistan – 479 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone as well as hundreds more across Punjab, Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan alone. * For further coverage by Arab News. As monsoon rains continue, authorities warn of impending flooding. Evacuations underscore both climate change’s severe impact and the urgent need for effective disaster preparation and cross-border cooperation.
