The Punjab government on Wednesday declared a state of emergency across the province after days of unrelenting monsoon rains caused flash floods and widespread devastation, claiming the lives of at least 63 people and injuring nearly 300 others.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed that the majority of casualties occurred in roof collapses and electrocution incidents as heavy rain battered urban and rural areas alike. Local officials said the death toll may rise further as rescue teams reach more remote areas.
“This is the worst rainfall we’ve seen in years,” said PDMA spokesperson Ahsan Bukhari. “Entire communities have been submerged. Roads are washed away. Power lines are down. We are dealing with a very serious humanitarian situation.”
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz convened an emergency meeting of the cabinet and issued directives for immediate mobilization of all available resources. “We will not allow our people to face this alone. Every district administration must be in the field, every agency must deliver,” she said, promising transparency in the disbursement of aid and accountability for any lapses.
In Lahore, where several feet of rainwater inundated major roads, citizens were left stranded for hours without electricity. In some neighborhoods, residents used makeshift rafts or tied plastic water bottles together to help children cross submerged streets.
“The water started seeping into our house at midnight,” said Shazia Bibi, a resident of Misri Shah, Lahore. “We spent the entire night on our rooftop with our children, shivering and praying that the rain would stop.”
Elsewhere in Rawalpindi, the rising waters of the Nullah Lai caught many residents off guard. The city’s old drainage system quickly collapsed under the deluge, flooding markets and residential colonies. Local authorities used loudspeakers to warn residents to move to higher ground. Some families could be seen clinging to trees and walls, waiting for rescue boats.
Emergency workers and army units are now deployed in all 12 of the most affected districts. In Jhelum, a rapid response unit used helicopters to airlift villagers from areas that had become inaccessible due to submerged roadways. In Faisalabad and Okara, community mosques and schools were converted into temporary shelters.
“We’ve rescued more than 2,000 people so far,” said Dr Rizwan Naseer, Director General of Rescue 1122. “Our teams are working round-the-clock, despite harsh conditions and damaged infrastructure.”
Hospitals in flood-hit areas are struggling to cope. In Sahiwal, emergency rooms are packed with patients suffering from waterborne illnesses and injuries from falling debris. The provincial government has deployed mobile medical units and is coordinating with NGOs to ensure supply of clean drinking water and essential medicines.
Meanwhile, power outages have compounded the misery. In many areas, electricity remains suspended due to damaged transformers and submerged substations. The Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) said restoration efforts were under way but warned that safety concerns were slowing progress.
As the rains continued into Thursday morning, the Pakistan Meteorological Department warned of more intense rainfall in central and northern Punjab over the next 48 hours. There is a risk of further flooding in low-lying areas and along rivers and canals already flowing at dangerous levels.
NDMA has issued fresh advisories urging people to stay away from open water, electrical poles, and weak structures. Local administrations have been told to keep relief camps stocked for at least one week, anticipating further displacement.
In a video message released late Wednesday night, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was “deeply grieved” by the loss of lives and assured that the federal government would provide full assistance. “We are facing a climate emergency,” he said. “These rains are no longer normal, and our response must evolve accordingly.”
Monsoon patterns shifting due to climate change
Environmental experts say the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in South Asia are rising due to climate change. Pakistan is among the ten most climate-vulnerable countries despite contributing less than 1% to global greenhouse gas emissions.
Dr Maria Khan, a climate scientist at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, said shifting monsoon patterns are leading to short bursts of extreme rainfall, overwhelming urban drainage systems and rural flood defenses.
“We are not just seeing more rain—we are seeing rain that falls faster and more violently than our cities and villages can handle,” she said. “Without major investment in resilient infrastructure and emergency preparedness, these events will only become deadlier.”
In 2022, record-breaking monsoon floods killed over 1,700 people and displaced millions across Pakistan. While the scale of this year’s floods is smaller so far, officials warn the country remains dangerously exposed.
As water levels rise, thousands of families across Punjab are now seeking shelter, food, and medical help—hoping the worst has passed, but bracing for more rain in the days ahead.
By: Usama Abdul Karim
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