Rising River Levels Spark Mass Evacuations in Pakistan
(MENAFN) Authorities in Pakistan have evacuated roughly 150,000 people in the northeastern Punjab province as water levels surge in three major rivers following heavy rainfall and dam discharges from neighboring India, officials confirmed Tuesday.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a fresh flood alert, warning of rising waters in the Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej rivers. The uptick comes after significant inflows from Indian-administered Kashmir and other northern Indian states battered by monsoon rains.
A senior NDMA spokesperson told Anadolu that the floodwaters are the result of a dual threat: “Flooding in all three rivers in Punjab is not only caused by the water released from India but also by heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of Punjab. Both factors are involved in causing the flood.”
Evacuations have been concentrated in Kasur, Bahawalnagar, and Vehari districts, where emergency services are moving residents to safer areas amid rising floodwaters.
The situation escalated after New Delhi released water from upstream dams, following days of torrential rain in Himachal Pradesh, Indian-administered Kashmir, Punjab, and Uttarakhand. On Sunday, India issued a rare formal warning to Pakistan about potential flooding in the Tawi River.
This marks the first instance of water-related communication between the two nations since India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty in April, citing a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people.
In a national advisory, the NDMA cautioned that more rainfall is expected over the next 12 hours in several regions, including Punjab. The public has been urged to avoid rivers, drainage areas, and low-lying zones, and to restrict non-essential travel.
Pakistan has been grappling with intense monsoon activity since August 14, which has triggered widespread destruction, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to NDMA data, 406 people have died in that region alone, with 80 additional fatalities reported in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Sindh.
Nationwide, nearly 800 people have lost their lives in rain- and flood-related incidents since late June, highlighting the devastating toll of the ongoing monsoon season.
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