Pakistan Evacuates Thousands as Flood Risks Rise Amid Heavy Rains and Cross-Border Water Release

Pakistan Evacuates Thousands as Flood Risks Rise Amid Heavy Rains and Cross-Border Water Release
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Pakistan has evacuated over 100,000 people from vulnerable areas in eastern Punjab as floodwaters surge due to heavy monsoon rains and the release of excess water by India from overflowing dams and rivers, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The alert was issued after India formally warned Islamabad of potential flooding—a rare diplomatic communication between the two nations in recent months, as reported by The Conversation and regional officials.

More than 14,000 residents were evacuated from Kasur district, while over 89,000 people were moved to safer locations in Bahawalnagar, both located near the Indian border. Authorities urged the public to avoid rivers, streams, and low-lying areas, and to follow real-time alerts issued through media and disaster management platforms.

This emergency action follows weeks of intense monsoon rainfall that has triggered widespread flooding across Pakistan, killing over 800 people since late June. In the northwest, a devastating flash flood in Buner district killed more than 300, with many victims caught off guard by what officials described as an unpredictable cloudburst.

Meanwhile, in Indian-administered Kashmir, at least 65 people have died and hundreds more have been displaced, with rivers and streams breaching their banks, damaging homes, bridges, and roads. India’s Meteorological Department predicts the rainfall will continue through late Tuesday.

Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors remain high, exacerbated by New Delhi’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty following the April killing of 26 tourists in Kashmir. While the treaty had endured decades of conflict, including wars and military standoffs, it was set aside amid escalating hostilities, culminating in tit-for-tat missile strikes in May.

With Pakistan’s monsoon season running from July to September, scientists warn that climate change is intensifying rainfall patterns, raising fears of a repeat of the catastrophic 2022 floods that submerged a third of the country and claimed over 1,700 lives.