Lahore Flood Disaster: 22 Lives Lost, Thousands Evacuated

Lahore, Aug 29 (PTI) - Recent flooding in Lahore, part of Pakistan's Punjab province, has resulted in the tragic loss of at least 22 lives in the past 24 hours. Additionally, floodwaters have submerged nine residential areas within the city, according to local authorities. The Punjab government reported that approximately 1,700 villages across the province have been inundated, with thousands of acres of grain crops submerged. Rescue operations have been active, with over one million individuals evacuated by the combined efforts of various institutions and the army. The statement highlighted the exceptionally high floods in the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers, which have caused the fatalities. In Lahore, the Ravi River's floodwaters inundated roads and damaged houses in nine localities. Lahore Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza noted that the Ravi is now flowing with nearly 220,000 cusecs of water, close to its maximum capacity of 250,000 cusecs. The provincial government attributed the crisis to unprecedented monsoon rains and the excess water release from India, which swelled the three eastern rivers. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz visited the Ravi and expressed regret, acknowledging that India's opening of spillways contributed to the situation. However, she noted that the province's early warning system enabled timely evacuations. The chief minister committed to focusing on flood prevention in the future, including improving infrastructure and dams. Following India's decision to open all the gates of Thein Dam on the Ravi River, the Punjab administration has enlisted the Pakistan Army's assistance in rescue and relief operations across eight districts, including Lahore, Okara, and Faisalabad. Pakistan also received a warning from India about potential further water releases from the Madhopur Dam, which may impact the Ravi River. India communicated flood warnings to Pakistan on humanitarian grounds. Authorities warned that up to 800,000 cusecs of water could pass through the Chenab River system in the next 48 hours, potentially causing widespread devastation. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that over one million people have been evacuated due to the Chenab's flooding. In the Ravi River area, around 80 villages are submerged, with 11,000 people evacuated. Meanwhile, the Sutlej River flooding has submerged 361 villages, prompting the evacuation of nearly 127,000 people.

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