On Thursday (August 28), Pakistani rescuers were urgently evacuating flood-stricken residents in the eastern Punjab province. The severe flooding was triggered by heavy rains in neighboring India and the opening of dams to release water, causing a devastating flood along the low-lying border areas of India and Pakistan.
According to reports from various media outlets, Marriyum Aurangzeb, the Minister for Punjab province, stated that 1,432 villages along the Ravi River, Sutlej River, and Chenab River have been affected by flooding, impacting around 1.2 million people. Approximately 248,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, marking the most serious water disaster to hit the region in decades.
She added that authorities have set up nearly 700 relief camps and 265 medical facilities in the affected areas, providing food and essential supplies to the flood victims.
Local police reported that at least 15 people had lost their lives due to floods in the Gujranwala district of Punjab province and surrounding villages on the previous day (27th).
The irrigation department of Punjab province explained that this is the first time in 38 years that the Ravi River, Sutlej River, and Chenab River have all flooded simultaneously, prompting rescue teams to conduct simultaneous operations in multiple areas.
However, due to limited resources for rescue efforts and the dense population of Punjab province, many people remain trapped in their homes unable to evacuate. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast that the two-day pause in rainfall will resume on Friday (29th) and may continue into next week.