Lahore: A viral flood coverage clip that turned both dramatic and unintentionally hilarious has now shifted into a branding controversy. Internet sensation Mehrunnisa, who gained fame during Punjab’s recent floods, is facing questions over her channel’s name.
Her distinctive speaking style—especially her pronunciation quirks—quickly made her recognizable on social platforms. In one viral video, she tried to deliver a serious flood update while balancing on a rocking boat:
“As you can see, the water pressure is rising.”
But as the boat swayed, she broke character in panic:
“Bohat dar lag raha hai, kabhi iss side pe hoti kabhi us, balance nahi ho raha hum se.”
Her lighthearted closing line, “Bas ap hamare liye dua karein guys”, cemented her status as a social media favorite. Memes, quotes, and humorous takes soon followed.
However, the clip also sparked confusion. The channel’s name, “BBC Urdu Punjab News”, raised eyebrows, prompting BBC Urdu to issue a formal clarification:
“We have no affiliation with this outlet. Any use of the BBC name is unauthorized. Please verify news from our official platforms only.”
Responding on TikTok, Mehrunnisa denied any intent to mislead. She explained:
“BBC means ‘Bhai Bhai Channel’—that’s our own brand!”
She further revealed that her original channel “BBC Urdu News Punjab TV” was removed from YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok following BBC’s complaint. The team has now rebranded as BBN (Bhai Bhai News) and is working to rebuild monetization.
Mehrunnisa described her approach as raw and unscripted:
“I can’t read scripts. Whatever comes naturally, I speak in my own style.”
While brand confusion remains, her authenticity and humor have made her a standout figure in Pakistan’s digital media scene. Whether or not she keeps the “BBC” title, netizens already hail her as the “Queen of Real-Time Flood Reporting.”
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.
