Pakistani authorities have deployed the army in northeastern Punjab province to aid in rescue and relief operations as the region grapples with a flood emergency triggered by heavy monsoon rains and the release of water from overflowing Indian dams.
New Delhi has already warned Islamabad of high inflows expected in the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers, raising fears of worsening conditions in the days ahead.
According to an official notification, the deployment was made at the request of the Punjab government to assist the civil administration in evacuation and emergency measures. Troops have been stationed in Lahore, Okara, Faisalabad, Sialkot, and several other districts facing severe flooding.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources cautioned that a “high flood” could soon strike multiple districts in Punjab as water levels continue to surge across the three rivers. Fresh warnings were also relayed by Indian authorities, with the Press Trust of India reporting that Islamabad was alerted Wednesday about the “high probability” of flooding in the Tawi River, as incessant rainfall in northern Indian states forced the release of excess water from major reservoirs.
On Tuesday, Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) confirmed that nearly 150,000 people had already been evacuated to safer areas. The NDMA urged those living along riverbanks to relocate immediately to avoid casualties. Officials further cautioned that another wet spell is forecast to begin on August 29 across different parts of the country, potentially worsening the crisis.
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Both India and Pakistan have been battered by relentless monsoon rains and flash floods in recent weeks. Since August 14, nearly 500 people have died in Pakistan, including over 400 in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province alone. Nationwide, the death toll has surpassed 800 since June 26, according to government figures.
Meanwhile, in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, thousands of residents remain stranded after torrential rains and floods washed away key roads in Ghizer district, leaving many villages cut off from relief supplies.
The unfolding crisis underscores the devastating impact of climate extremes in South Asia, with both neighboring nations struggling to manage floodwaters that continue to threaten lives and livelihoods.
