Pakistan faces a new flood crisis after continuous heavy monsoon rains submerged many villages in Punjab province. Residents have had to evacuate by boat, while numerous families remain stranded without water, electricity, or food.
AFP reported that areas in Muridke district, Punjab—the most populous province of Pakistan—have been severely affected by monsoon rains, turning many villages into vast expanses of water.
Local reporters found that volunteer groups are using small motorboats to help evacuate residents from risky areas, but many villagers remain stranded and are awaiting assistance.
Igra Salman, 32, revealed that her family has been cut off from the outside world for four days with no rescue teams reaching them. They have no electricity, no clean water, and their food supplies have run out, all while being surrounded by floodwaters on all sides.
Pakistan’s Disaster Management Authority stated that since 26 June, at least 109 people have died due to flood-related incidents, including drowning and house collapses, with about one-third of the deaths occurring in Punjab province.
Rescue volunteer Haris Dar said that their team is operating four boats to assist residents in approximately 12 villages, working to evacuate victims and their belongings from flooded areas.
Although some residents have been rescued, many families are staying in temporary tents amid hot, humid conditions alongside roads adjacent to widespread floodwaters.
Experts note that Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with limited resources to manage disasters effectively.
While the South Asian monsoon is vital for agriculture, global warming has made its patterns more erratic and unpredictable, causing increasingly severe disasters across the region.
Meanwhile, neighboring Afghanistan is also experiencing heavy rains and flash floods, with 34 deaths reported between 20 and 26 July and approximately 100 people missing after floods in Nuristan province.
Looking back to 2022, Pakistan suffered a major flood disaster caused by intense monsoon rains, resulting in about 1,700 deaths and vast areas of the country submerged underwater.
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