Floods devastate Pakistan's Punjab: Over 200,000 evacuated as 'exceptionally high' flooding hits
Pakistani authorities have evacuated over 200,000 people after severe flooding in parts of the country's most populous province.
Some 200,000 people have been evacuated in Pakistan's Punjab province as floods devastate several regions.
Rescuers are using boats to carry residents to safety due to warnings of 'exceptionally high' flood levels along the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers.
The army has been called in by multiple districts to assist with the evacuation efforts.
This situation arises after Pakistani officials stated that India had alerted them about the release of water from major dams upstream, leading to flooding in parts of Punjab.
Both countries have experienced intense rainfall recently, resulting in over 800 monsoon-related deaths in Pakistan since June.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has advised people in affected areas to avoid rivers, drains, and low-lying zones.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has pledged cooperation with regional authorities to mitigate the risk of flooding, particularly in urban areas such as Gujarat, Sialkot, and Lahore, Pakistan's second-most populous city.
In Sialkot, a record-breaking amount of rainfall in 24 hours has caused cars, homes, and buildings to be submerged, leaving many residents stranded.
Rescue teams have been going door-to-door in villages, relocating residents and their livestock by boat.
Over 32,000 people have been rescued from floodwaters, according to local officials.
The flooding has also resulted in the Sutlej River overflowing, submerging homes and destroying protective walls.
Some residents, like Nadeem Ahmad, refuse to evacuate due to financial constraints and the need to protect their livestock.
Others have accepted help from emergency teams and chosen to stay in shelters or with friends and relatives on higher ground.
The floods are particularly devastating for families living below the poverty line.
The decision of some residents to remain in their homes despite the risks stems from their economic circumstances.
The flooding follows India's public warning about releasing water from upstream dams, a rare instance of communication between the two countries since their recent military conflict.
Both Pakistan and India have been severely affected by the extreme monsoon rains.
On Tuesday, a landslide near the popular Hindu shrine Vaishno Devi in Indian-administered Kashmir resulted in at least 30 deaths.
Rescuers are using boats to carry residents to safety due to warnings of 'exceptionally high' flood levels along the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers.
The army has been called in by multiple districts to assist with the evacuation efforts.
This situation arises after Pakistani officials stated that India had alerted them about the release of water from major dams upstream, leading to flooding in parts of Punjab.
Both countries have experienced intense rainfall recently, resulting in over 800 monsoon-related deaths in Pakistan since June.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has advised people in affected areas to avoid rivers, drains, and low-lying zones.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has pledged cooperation with regional authorities to mitigate the risk of flooding, particularly in urban areas such as Gujarat, Sialkot, and Lahore, Pakistan's second-most populous city.
In Sialkot, a record-breaking amount of rainfall in 24 hours has caused cars, homes, and buildings to be submerged, leaving many residents stranded.
Rescue teams have been going door-to-door in villages, relocating residents and their livestock by boat.
Over 32,000 people have been rescued from floodwaters, according to local officials.
The flooding has also resulted in the Sutlej River overflowing, submerging homes and destroying protective walls.
Some residents, like Nadeem Ahmad, refuse to evacuate due to financial constraints and the need to protect their livestock.
Others have accepted help from emergency teams and chosen to stay in shelters or with friends and relatives on higher ground.
The floods are particularly devastating for families living below the poverty line.
The decision of some residents to remain in their homes despite the risks stems from their economic circumstances.
The flooding follows India's public warning about releasing water from upstream dams, a rare instance of communication between the two countries since their recent military conflict.
Both Pakistan and India have been severely affected by the extreme monsoon rains.
On Tuesday, a landslide near the popular Hindu shrine Vaishno Devi in Indian-administered Kashmir resulted in at least 30 deaths.
