Punjab Struggles with Worst Flood Emergency in Recent Years

Punjab Floods Escalate into Humanitarian Crisis

Lahore,Ali Imran Chattha 

Punjab is grappling with one of its worst flood emergencies in recent years, as swollen rivers have submerged thousands of villages and displaced millions of people. The overflowing Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers have inundated central and southern districts, creating a vast stretch of waterlogged land between the river confluences and Guddu Barrage in Sindh.

Officials estimate that around 2.45 million people in more than 4,500 villages have been directly affected. In many places, residents have been forced to abandon their homes and belongings, retreating to rooftops or higher ground in a desperate attempt to survive. At least 97 lives have already been lost, and the toll is expected to rise as rescue teams reach more cut-off communities.

The disaster has also crippled essential services. Vast areas are without electricity, mobile phone coverage, and road access, leaving families unable to call for help or receive timely assistance. The lack of clean water and food supplies has intensified the crisis, while health experts warn of looming outbreaks of waterborne diseases. Medical camps have been established in riverine regions, but demand far outstrips available resources.

To protect towns and cities from rising waters, authorities have carried out controlled breaches in embankments at several points, redirecting floodwaters into less populated areas. Yet these measures have not eliminated the danger; breaches and weak dykes, such as those near Shujabad, continue to threaten communities. The risk of further flooding remains high as rivers carry enormous inflows downstream.

Rescue and relief efforts are underway. In the past 24 hours alone, tens of thousands have been evacuated. Innovative methods, including drones delivering food packets to isolated families in places like Seetpur, have been employed. Army, provincial disaster management teams, and local authorities are working round the clock, but the sheer scale of devastation makes the task overwhelming.

The agricultural heartland of Punjab has also suffered a severe blow. Standing crops have been destroyed, stripping farmers of their livelihoods and threatening the region’s food security in the months ahead. Damage to homes, roads, and embankments adds to the long-term economic burden.

Officials have declared several tehsils as calamity-hit areas, promising relief funds and rehabilitation support. However, with millions displaced and infrastructure in ruins, the road to recovery will be long and difficult. For now, Punjab stands at the brink of a humanitarian crisis, with survival, safety, and relief as the most urgent priorities.