Catastrophic Floods Engulf Punjab; Army Called In

 LAHORE: Ali Imran Chattha

Pak Punjab is facing one of its worst flood crises in recent years as monsoon rains and heavy water inflows from India pushed major rivers beyond critical levels. The provincial government deployed the army in at least eight districts to lead rescue and relief efforts as the death toll and destruction mounted. At least 123 people have died in Punjab, while the nationwide toll since late June has risen to 739. More than 150,000 residents have been displaced, many of them moving voluntarily after government warnings. Officials said thousands of acres of farmland have been inundated, damaging crops, destroying infrastructure and causing significant livestock losses. The crisis deepened after India released over 210,000 cusecs of water from the Thein Dam, swelling the Ravi and Sutlej rivers.

 Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz visited flood-hit areas along the Ravi River, directing officials to expedite evacuations and personally overseeing embankment reinforcement work. Army engineers were seen strengthening vulnerable sites, while helicopters carried out rescues in submerged settlements. Personnel from Frontier Corps and Rescue 1122 were also mobilised.

 Punjab’s Flood Zones on ‘Exceptionally High’ Alert LAHORE: Authorities have placed several districts of Punjab on “very high to exceptionally high” alert as rising river waters continue to submerge villages and disrupt urban centres. In Kasur and Bahawalnagar, more than 50 villages were inundated and over 103,000 people evacuated. Severe urban flooding was reported in Sialkot, Narowal and Gujranwala, where overflowing drains swamped housing societies and residential blocks. Lahore’s Shahdara and Jassar areas experienced major waterlogging, disrupting daily life. Schools remained closed in Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Layyah and Bhakkar. In Faisalabad and Chiniot, the rising Chenab threatened industrial zones as floodwaters swept into rural areas, damaging crops. Okara and Arifwala reported extensive losses to prime agricultural land.

Kartarpur Corridor Evacuated Amid Rising Flood Waters NAROWAL: Around 100 pilgrims, visitors and staff were evacuated from the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur after floodwaters surrounded the religious complex. Punjab Minister for Minorities Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora supervised the operation, which was carried out with the help of the army and Rescue 1122. Officials said the main shrine remained secure but embankments were being strengthened as a precaution. The evacuation has drawn concern from the Sikh community in Pakistan and abroad, with leaders expressing appreciation for the rescue efforts. 

Opinion: The Recurring Nightmare of Floods and Water Releases The latest floods once again highlight Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate shocks compounded by fraught transboundary water politics. While India issued advance warnings, the release of more than 210,000 cusecs from the Thein Dam has been described by officials in Lahore as “water aggression”, worsening conditions along the Ravi and Sutlej rivers. Experts say the crisis points to the need for renewed dialogue on river management under the Indus Waters Treaty, as well as urgent domestic reforms. Investment in flood defences, early warning systems and climate-resilient infrastructure has become critical, they argue, while poor planning and encroachments continue to deepen the scale of disaster.

Sidebar / News Ticker Flow at Kot Naina on Ravi River crosses 250,000 cusecs; Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala recorded at 208,973 cusecs. MET Office forecasts further rain through early September; low-lying areas of Sindh placed on alert. PDMA helpline: 1122. Mobile application available for real-time flood updates. --