LAHORE: Nearly half a million people have been displaced by devastating floods in eastern Pakistan after days of relentless monsoon rains caused rivers to overflow, triggering one of the largest rescue operations in the country’s history.
According to the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), 835 people have lost their lives since the start of the monsoon season on June 26, with 195 deaths reported in Punjab province alone.
For the first time in Pakistan’s history, all three major transboundary rivers — Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej — overflowed simultaneously, inundating over 2,300 villages.
To control the rising waters, the Punjab government has carried out controlled breaches of key flood bunds, diverting surging waters away from densely populated regions.
Nabeel Javed, head of Punjab’s relief services, confirmed that 481,000 people and 405,000 livestock have been safely evacuated from flood-hit areas.
Overall, the disaster has affected more than 1.5 million people across Punjab, leaving thousands homeless and forcing mass evacuations from rural settlements near the overflowing rivers.
“This is the biggest rescue operation in Punjab’s history,” said Irfan Ali Khan, Director General of the PDMA, during a press briefing. He added that more than 800 boats and 1,300 rescue personnel are engaged in ongoing evacuations and relief efforts.
Rescue teams continue to work around the clock as the situation remains critical, with authorities warning that further rainfall and river inflows could worsen the crisis.