Heavy torrential rains in Pakistan has triggered massive flooding all across the Punjab province with no signs of subsiding. Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said more than 100 lives were lost and hundreds injured since the flash floods began late June.
Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a warning about increasing heavy rains from July 20 onwards. PDMA raise alarm predicting severe flooding of the Indus river at Kalabagh and Chashma during the next 24 hours.
Thousands of people were evacuated from Pothohar, hundreds were rescued from Jhelum, Chakwal, and Rawalpindi. As per reports, heavy rains “swept away small dams which have burst at banks”. According to Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, “Pakistan has seen devastating floods over the last few years. This monsoon season is not different.”
The worst hit areas were near Lahore, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Okara, Sahiwal and Pakpattan. Chakwal District received 423 mm of rainfall in one day. Thursday was declared a holiday in Rawalpindi to keep people safe.
Nullah Lai River saw a sharp rise in its water levels and the residents were told to evacuate immediately. An official from the rescue team said, “Rescue teams are on standby for more evacuations.” Punjab’s low-lying areas were severely affected by the overflowing rivers. Casualties resulted from building collapses, drowning and electrocution.
A 51-year-old farmer in Ladian village, Tariq Mehbood Bhatti said, “Children were screaming for help, and women stood on rooftops, waving their shawls and begging to be rescued.”.
Guardian reported, “Glaciers across northern Pakistan have been melting at an accelerated pace as a result of record-breaking summer temperatures, leading to deadly flash flooding and landslides.”
Obscenely high temperature in Pakistan occupied Gilgit-Baltistan
Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region recorded temperatures as high as 48.5C (119.3F). Local officials called it unprecedented for a region at 1,200 metres above sea level covered with snow-capped mountains.
Glaciers are melting across the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush and the Karakoram mountain ranges. Zakir Hussain, official associated with Gilgit-Baltistan’s disaster management authority concluded that “very serious situation” was unfolding in the region. Volatile glacial lakes were formed which were a serious threat to people’s safety.
Hussain said, “We are facing a flood situation in many areas”. He further added, “The rise of temperature has sent a shiver down our spines. We have never before witnessed such weather here.” A local from Gilgit, Tariq Ali confirmed the situation, “It is like hell,” adding “There has been no rain for quite some time, we are only seeing heatwaves and are witnessing very serious ice-melting. I personally have never witnessed such summer conditions in Gilgit.”
Sherry Rehman, Pakistan’s former climate change minister highlighted that government was not doing enough to prepare and protect the country. She said, “We are at the epicentre of a global climate polycrisis,” and went on saying, “Pakistan is now number one in 2025 as the most climate-impacted country. That’s huge. But do you see alarm bells ringing? I don’t.”
