Punjab Evacuates 19,000 from Flood-Alert Rivers Amid Monsoon Threat

Punjab province in Pakistan is on high alert as the Sutlej River surges to dangerous flood levels, prompting the evacuation of over 19,000 people from vulnerable riverbank and low-lying areas ahead of a fresh monsoon spell expected between August 24 and 27. Provincial authorities, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, have mobilized all available resources to ensure timely evacuation, provide temporary accommodation, food, medical aid, and snakebite vaccines to affected populations. Rescue 1122 and district administrations in Kasur, Pakpattan, Okara, Bahawalnagar, Vehari, and other districts are actively involved in relocation efforts, prioritizing safety in central and southern Punjab. While the Sutlej River remains the epicenter of the crisis, other rivers such as the Indus are rising at critical points, though the Chenab and Ravi rivers currently hold steady. The situation is exacerbated by ongoing shortages of drinking water and essentials in flood-affected areas, with fears of further flooding and landslides as the monsoon season continues into early September. Additionally, Gilgit-Baltistan faces flash floods linked to glacial lake outburst floods, displacing thousands and compounding the humanitarian challenges across Pakistan.