At least 20 people have lost their lives as Punjab experiences its worst flooding in four decades, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
Director General Irfan Ali Kathia confirmed that most of the deaths were the result of drowning, with the majority reported in the Gujranwala division. He emphasised that no casualties were linked to lapses in rescue services, stating: “Most of the deaths occurred due to drowning and were reported mostly in Gujranwala division.”
The flooding, triggered by extremely high water levels in the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers, has affected over 1.46 million people across Punjab. Hundreds of villages have been submerged, while vast areas of agricultural land, including vital grain crops, are under water.
Authorities are on high alert, with the Chenab River expected to reach dangerous levels at Head Trimmu. Evacuation efforts are ongoing, with operations involving both helicopters and boats to reach stranded residents.
Kathia announced that the Punjab government would provide compensation of one million rupees to each family of the victims. He described the scale of the disaster as unprecedented in recent decades, stressing that all available resources are being used to safeguard lives and property.
The floods have been described as the most devastating in nearly 40 years, with damage continuing to spread as river levels remain dangerously high.