On Thursday, an emergency state was declared in several Punjab districts when heavy rains caused floods and claimed more than 60 lives throughout the province in the last 24 hours, according to rescue officials and local authorities.
The Department of Meteorology of Pakistan (PMD) issued on Monday a warning of torrential rains with sun loking that will last throughout the country until July 17.
The general director of WASA, Tayyab Farid, said that “the rivers have overwhelmed due to the heavy rains in Rawalpindi, Chakwal and the surrounding areas,” which leads to a flood situation.
According to the spokesman for the Punjab provincial disaster management authority, 63 people died and 290 were injured due to monsoon rains throughout the province in the last 24 hours.
“At least 15 were reported dead in Lahore, nine in Faisalabad, five in Sahiwal, three in Pakpattan and nine in Okara,” said spokesman PMDA.
The deceased’s families will receive compensation from the government, said spokesman PMDA in a statement.
“A rain emergency has been imposed on different Punjab areas due to unusual torrential rains and a flood situation,” said Prime Minister Maryam Nawaz in X.
CM Maryam added that directives have been issued to maintain the public alert through sirens and ads. He urged the public to cooperate with local authorities and take security precautions.
Citizens have been advised to avoid unnecessary trips, stay away from electric and open lines, said Wasa DG.
The rescue teams are on alert in the field to deal with the emergency, he added.
Meanwhile, PMD issued a flood alert for the Gawalmandi and Kattaraian bridges in Rawalpindi as the water level in the Leh Nullah continues to increase.
Subsequently, the general director PDMA Irfan Ali Kathia urged residents of low areas near Leh Nullah to “cooperate with the administration if evacuation is necessary.”
In a statement, the PDMA warned that strict measures will be taken against those who meet or bathe near Leh Nullah. He also announced a local holiday in Rawalpindi in the light of the emergency.
Meanwhile, in Jhelum, rescue operations were underway to evacuate citizens trapped in flood waters in the villages of Dhok Badar, Dhok Shah Arif, Sohawa, Rasoolpur, Chak Muhammad and Bhampo, according to rescue spokesman Punjab Farooq Ahmed.
Around 57 people have been rescued so far, he said, with more than 50 rescue boats currently involved in rescue efforts.
He added that rescue teams have been deployed throughout the province: in Mianwali, Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Atock, DG Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur and Layyah.
“Army staff and rescue teams from the Pakistan army currently hurry citizens to safe places,” he said.
Chakwal records 400 mm of rain in 10 hours
The Chakwal district of Punjab registered 400 millimeters of rain during the night due to a cloud, causing sudden floods throughout the city, a Punjab PDMA statement on Thursday.
According to PDMA, “Chawkwal recorded 400 mm of rain in 10 hours, which left many flooded areas.”
DG PDMA said that the water has begun to retreat with the ceasefire, and that evacuation efforts are being made to rescue the trapped citizens.
The District Administration has been alerted, while the relevant rescue departments, including WASA, Rescue 1122 and other civil personnel, have been summoned to the field to supervise rescue efforts, according to the Chakwal district commissioner, Quratul Ain Malik.
In the light of the situation, help arrangements have been made in hospitals and public buildings, said Malik.
Meanwhile, DG PDMA added that the district administration was also in contact with the military also in case of additional support.
“The PDMA assured the administration of the support district in the rescue and help efforts and is personally supervising the rescue operation until all citizens are safely evacuated,” Kathia said. “The district administration continues to monitor the situation, particularly in low areas.”
The district emergency operation center, including the PDMA control room, is on a maximum alert, said, added that “helicopters and other rescue resources are also waiting.”
The rains in Mandi Bahauddin leave a dead child, injured 11
The strong downpour in Mandi Bahauddin left one dead and wounded 11 people on Wednesday, since the city recorded 210 mm of rain.
Shah Hussain, 10 years old, drowned while bathing in rainwater, while in another incident, two children, Qasim, 08, and Huzaifa, 06, were electrocuted during the rain.
Nine people were injured after the roofs of three ruined houses collapsed in separate places. The city areas, such as the Chowk University, Pindi Purani and the prison, remained submerged below two or four feet of water.
Authorities in Islamabad on maximum alert
In the midst of heavy rains and floods in the province, the authorities of the capital were ordered to remain on the maximum alert on the instructions of the President’s Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa.
“Field teams should provide all possible assistance to citizens in case of emergency,” he said.
The president of the CDA directed that a strict monitoring of all roads, drains and river routes of Islamabad must be guaranteed.
In the case of any emergency, citizens are advised to communicate with the administration of the CDA and the district in 16 and 1334, respectively.
The National Authority for Disaster Management (NDMA) predicted that heavy rains will continue to open parts of the country during the next 24 hours, Pakistan radio reported.
“Several districts in Punjab, including Lahore, Chakwal, Attock, Jhelum, Khushab, Sargodha, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Okara, Kasur, Sheikhupura and Hafizabad will probably experience storms and heavy rains in the next hours of Twelve.
Pakistan experiences Monzonian rain from June to September of each year. Heavy rains also trigger mortal floods, landslides and displacements, particularly in vulnerable areas, poorly drained or densely populated.
