Pakistan Army deployed in Punjab for flood relief in six districts

As floodwaters continue to rise across Punjab following India’s release of water into eastern rivers, the provincial government has approved the deployment of the Pakistan Army in six districts to support ongoing relief and rescue efforts. The decision comes amid a growing flood emergency in parts of Lahore, Kasur, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Narowal, and Okara, where riverine and urban flooding is threatening lives and property. The flooding has been triggered by the discharge of approximately 250,000 cusecs of water from the Ravi River at Kot Nainan, submerging vast tracts of agricultural and residential land. Simultaneously, high water levels in the Dek Nullah have added to the devastation, putting further strain on local relief efforts. According to the Punjab Home Department, the district administrations in the affected areas had formally requested the immediate deployment of army troops to assist civil authorities. A letter has been sent to the Ministry of Interior for the requisition of military personnel. The Home Department said that Rescue 1122, Civil Defence, police, and local authorities were already active on the ground, but the magnitude of the flood threat necessitated additional support from the armed forces. The military is expected to assist in emergency evacuations, reinforce embankments, and provide logistical support where required. The number of troops will be determined in consultation with respective district administrations, the department added. https://ift.tt/fZds9YA Where necessary, Army Aviation and other resources will also be deployed to aid operations in hard-to-reach or severely affected regions. A government spokesperson said the Punjab government and all relevant departments were monitoring the flood situation round the clock and using all available resources to ensure the safety of citizens. “This timely and coordinated response aims not only to provide urgent relief but also to prevent any large-scale disaster,” the spokesperson added. According to the communication, the request comes in response to worsening conditions triggered by heavy monsoon rains and large discharges of water into the Ravi River, including from upstream Indian dams. Narowal and Kasur—both located near the Indian border—have been among the hardest-hit districts in recent days. Meanwhile, the local administration in Narowal has also sought assistance from the Pakistan Army, as rising floodwaters continue to inundate vast swathes of the region. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, in a post on X, said the situation in Narowal district had reached emergency levels. He confirmed that while the district administration was actively engaged in relief and rescue operations, the gravity of the crisis necessitated the deployment of army personnel. ضلع نارووال اس وقت شدید سیلابی صورتحال سے دوچار ہے۔ کوٹ نیناں کے مقام پر دریائے راوی میں سوا دو لاکھ کیوسک پانی کے اخراج نے وسیع علاقے کو زیرِ آب کر دیا ہے جبکہ نالہ ڈیک میں بھی شدید طغیانی جاری ہے۔ ضلعی انتظامیہ امدادی کارروائیوں میں مصروف ہے، تاہم سیلاب کی سنگینی کے پیش نظر… — Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) August 26, 2025 “The administration is working on the ground, but the severity of the flooding has led us to request the Pakistan Army’s support,” he said. He urged citizens to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary movement in affected areas, and prioritise their safety. The minister also announced that he was heading to Narowal to assess the situation on the ground. Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) warned that the province —including the major city of Lahore—is facing a “very high to exceptionally high” flood danger, driven by heavy monsoon rains and India’s decision to discharge water from two dams. https://ift.tt/o5gknVJ According to the PDMA, India had opened all gates of the Thein Dam, releasing surplus water into the Ravi. This development followed a warning issued the previous day regarding a possible discharge from the rapidly filling Madhopur Dam, also affecting the Ravi River system. “The flood situation is grave,” said Irfan Ali Kathia, an official with Punjab’s disaster management authority. “The next 48 hours will be critical.” Read More: PM orders swift evacuations as floods impact Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) previously assessed that satellite imagery showed the Thein Dam was already 97% full—a level at which water discharge becomes imminent. India regularly conducts such releases when reservoirs surpass capacity; however, the proximity of the two nuclear-armed nations and lingering post-conflict tensions have heightened sensitivities. Any floods blamed on Indian actions could further strain fragile relations. An Indian government source clarified that the second alert did not reference a specific dam. Intense rainfall, the source added, had prompted renewed communication with Pakistan via diplomatic channels, ostensibly on humanitarian grounds to help avert a disaster affecting both countries. Mass evacuations underway Authorities have ramped up evacuations—over 190,000 residents in Punjab have been displaced, including nearly 35,000 who left voluntarily after flood warnings began on August 14, according to national officials. Villages near the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers are being cleared, with assistance from the army. While current flooding along these rivers ranges from medium to high, additional heavy rainfall is expected across Punjab and Pakistani Kashmir in the coming 12–24 hours. “Sixteen villages remain at immediate flood risk,” said Deputy Commissioner Saba Asghar Ali during a site visit to Pasrur near the Indian border. Relief camps have been established with provisions for food, medicine, sanitation, and other necessities. Punjab’s Irrigation Minister, Kazim Raza Pirzada, observed that “climate change has intensified rainfall in our eastern river basins compared to the past.” PMD forecasts persistent rain, flood risks The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasts widespread rain, wind and thundershowers on Wednesday in northeast Punjab and Kashmir, with isolated rainfall expected elsewhere in central and southern Punjab, upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and northeast and south Balochistan. Heavy downpours may trigger landslides and mudslides in hilly areas of Kashmir—including Rawalakot, Poonch, and Mirpur—and urban flooding in low-lying cities like Narowal, Sialkot, Gujranwala, and Lahore. Residents have been urged to stay cautious as intense weather may impact weak structures, poles, billboards, and vehicles. In response to the escalating threat, Punjab’s Inspector General of Police, Dr Usman Anwar, placed the police force on high alert. He directed teams across the province to assist in rescue and evacuation operations—particularly in low-lying and flood-prone villages bordering rivers and streams. Supervisory officers (RPOs and DPOs) have been personally tasked with overseeing ground efforts, coordinating closely with district administrations and rescue agencies. Regular patrolling is underway in affected areas, and police are ensuring the safety of relief camps and flood-displaced individuals. “The protection of lives, property and essential belongings of citizens will be ensured at all costs,” the IGP stated. Since the monsoon began in late June, flood-related deaths in Pakistan have reached 802, with nearly half occurring in August alone. Other regions are similarly affected; Gilgit-Baltistan is grappling with accelerated glacial melt, and Karachi was partially submerged by flash floods last week.

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