Lahore, Pakistan — Tens of thousands of residents in eastern Punjab have been forced to leave their homes after India released water from its swollen dams and rivers into low-lying areas along the Pakistan border. Officials confirmed that large-scale evacuations are underway as authorities scramble to protect communities from the surging Sutlej River.
The warning came after New Delhi informed Islamabad of the expected cross-border flooding — the first official diplomatic exchange between the two nuclear-armed nations in months. Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said it had issued alerts to provincial authorities in Punjab, urging immediate precautionary steps.
Thousands Relocated to Safety
According to NDMA figures, more than 14,000 residents have been rescued from Kasur district, while over 89,000 people were shifted to safer ground in Bahawalnagar, which lies close to the Indian frontier. Emergency teams are continuing rescue operations, using boats and trucks to transport families from inundated villages.
Authorities have repeatedly advised citizens to avoid unnecessary travel, keep away from riverbanks and streams, and remain vigilant by following official alerts issued through television, radio, mobile phones, and the NDMA disaster app.
Monsoon Rains Compound the Crisis
The flood emergency comes as heavy seasonal rains batter both Pakistan and India. Monsoon downpours since late June have killed more than 800 people across Pakistan, while flash floods in Buner district earlier this month claimed over 300 lives. Many victims were caught unprepared, as the deluge was triggered by an unpredictable cloudburst.
In Indian-administered Kashmir, at least 65 people have died in recent flooding, with overflowing rivers damaging homes, roads, and bridges. Meteorologists in India expect rains to continue into the week, raising fears of further destruction.
Diplomatic Strain Over Water Sharing
Tuesday’s alert was transmitted through diplomatic channels instead of the Indus Waters Commission, the bilateral mechanism established under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. India suspended the commission earlier this year following the killing of 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmir — a move Pakistan insists has no legal standing.
The water-sharing treaty, brokered by the World Bank, had previously withstood multiple wars and crises. But deteriorating relations, missile strikes earlier this year, and the absence of dialogue have left cross-border coordination vulnerable at a time of climate-driven emergencies.
Climate Change Intensifies Monsoon Threats
Scientists have long warned that South Asia’s monsoon patterns are being reshaped by climate change. Pakistan has already endured devastating floods in 2022 that submerged nearly a third of the country and killed more than 1,700 people. This year’s unusually heavy rainfall has once again triggered fears of a humanitarian disaster on a massive scale.
With the monsoon season expected to continue until late September, officials caution that the worst may not be over. Relief agencies are calling for stronger regional cooperation to handle transboundary flooding, as millions living along the rivers remain at risk.