Pakistan is facing a severe flood crisis with over a dozen emergencies reported across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Continuous monsoon rains and sudden water releases from Indian dams have caused widespread damage, displacing more than 600,000 people and flooding hundreds of villages.
Major rivers including Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab have overflowed, breaching embankments and submerging key areas such as Kartarpur Corridor and parts of the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway. In Narowal and Kasur, water levels have reached up to seven feet, prompting military-led evacuations.
Across the border, India’s Punjab state is experiencing minor but rising flood threats in districts like Gurdaspur, Pathankot, and Ferozepur. The Beas and Ravi rivers have swelled due to heavy rainfall and dam discharges. Indian authorities issued alerts, but Pakistan’s NDMA criticized the lack of timely coordination, especially after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty earlier this year.
“This is not just a climate emergency—it’s a diplomatic one,” said NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Malik.
Impact summary:
- Pakistan: 769 villages affected, 263 relief camps active, over 700 deaths since June
- India (Punjab): 7 deaths, flood alerts in 8 districts
- Ravi at Jassar peaked at 229,700 cusecs; Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala exceeded 245,000 cusecs