Multan (Pakistan), September 8: Authorities in Pakistan’s Punjab province have issued new evacuation orders as torrential monsoon rains continue to trigger the worst flooding on record, with swollen rivers breaching embankments and submerging villages across the region.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department warned on Monday that another intense monsoon system is expected to bring “exceptional downpours” over the next two days, raising fears of more devastation in southern parts of the province.
Thousands Trapped as Floodwaters Rise
Reporting from Multan, Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder said the situation remains “not under control”.
“Half a million people are stranded in Jalalpur Pirwala after their villages were inundated,” Hyder reported. “There aren’t enough boats for rescue operations, and bad weather is hampering helicopter evacuations.”
Dozens of villages across Multan and surrounding districts have been flooded after embankments along the Sutlej and Chenab rivers collapsed. Farmland, homes, and livestock have been destroyed, leaving families without shelter or livelihoods.
Rising Death Toll and Cross-Border Impact
At least five people were killed when a rescue boat carrying 30 people capsized near Multan on Saturday.
Meanwhile, India has warned Pakistan of rising water levels on the Sutlej River after heavy rains upstream. These alerts are now being relayed through diplomatic channels rather than the Indus Waters Treaty, which India abandoned in April following a deadly attack in Kashmir that left 26 Indian tourists dead.
India’s Punjab region has also experienced flooding, though on a lesser scale than Pakistan. Climate experts blame global warming for the worsening intensity of monsoon rains affecting both nations.
The floods have destroyed crops across large swathes of Punjab, deepening concerns over food security and economic losses. Roads and bridges have also been damaged, complicating relief efforts.
With monsoon rains expected to continue, authorities warn the humanitarian crisis could worsen in the coming days.