LAHORE: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a high alert as Punjab reels under severe flooding triggered by the seventh wave of monsoon rains. Rising river levels and dams nearing full capacity have raised fears of further devastation in the coming days.
Floodwaters have submerged vast areas in Kasur, Bahawalnagar, and Narowal, breaching protective embankments, sweeping away crops, and displacing thousands of residents. Rescue teams are carrying out evacuations using boats, while emergency relief camps are providing food, tents, and blankets to affected families.
Authorities cautioned that additional water releases from India’s Harike Headworks could intensify flooding in downstream regions.
The NDMA confirmed that the death toll in Punjab has climbed to 164, including at least 70 children, making this monsoon season one of the deadliest in recent memory. Officials warned that the province could face its most severe flooding in years if heavy rainfall persists.
Meanwhile, scattered showers were reported in Lahore, while the Met Office forecast possible flash floods in Pothohar, Dera Ghazi Khan, and the Koh-e-Suleman range due to expected heavy rains.
