Pakistan braces for more floods as heavy rains forecast in south

ISLAMABAD

Pakistan is bracing for further devastation on Saturday after authorities warned of more heavy rains over the next three days in southern and central regions, while at least 15 more people died in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in the past 24 hours, officials said.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority of Sindh reported that “heavy to very heavy” downpours are expected across Sindh, parts of Punjab and the capital Islamabad.

“EXCEPTIONALLY High Flood Level will continue in River Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala, while River Chenab at Panjnad is expected to attain High to Very High Flood Level during the next 24 hours,” the authority said.

Sindh authorities said more than 121,000 people — mainly from the vulnerable Kacha area — have already been moved to safer ground as floodwaters spread south. Punjab has evacuated an estimated 900,000 people and 600,000 animals.

For the first time in Pakistan’s 78-year history, the eastern rivers Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej have overflowed simultaneously, inundating nearly 4,000 villages and affecting more than 2 million people.

On Friday, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a fresh flood warning for Punjab after India reportedly released additional water from its Sutlej dams.

The NDMA said 15 deaths in Punjab and KP over the past day brought the nationwide toll to 112 since Aug. 25, including 68 fatalities in Punjab alone. Since the start of monsoon rains on June 26, at least 907 people have been killed nationwide — 593 of them since Aug. 14, with more than 400 in KP.

The Pakistan Army said the first US relief flight carrying tents, dewatering pumps and generators arrived Friday, with five more flights scheduled.

Officials warn the current floods are the worst since the catastrophic deluges of 2022, which killed more than 1,700 people, submerged a third of the country and caused an estimated $32 billion in infrastructure damage.