Swift action by rescuers as floodwaters submerge thousands of homes in Pakistan, leading to over 820 fatalities
Flood Crisis Deepens in Eastern Punjab as Death Toll Rises
In the eastern province of Punjab, Pakistan, the ongoing flood crisis is causing widespread devastation and hardship. Nearly 1,100 relief and medical camps are operating in the province to provide aid, but the situation remains dire.
The floods, which began on Monday, have affected more than one million people, forcing nearly 300,000 to evacuate their homes. Tragically, around 20 people have died in this week's floods, raising the nationwide death toll to 820 since late June.
The floods were triggered by an abnormal amount of rain, and authorities, along with the military, have made controlled breaches in protective embankments to reduce pressure and protect major cities. However, many people in flood-hit areas are still in dire straits.
In Narowal district, residents are clinging to rooftops awaiting rescue, while those who reached higher ground are reporting hunger, skin infections, diarrhea, and other health issues. Nargis Bibi, 45, described how her grain stores were ruined by the floods, leaving her and her family with little food.
Private charities, such as the Baba Nanak Welfare Trust and the Sahara Foundation, have set up medical camps in the region to treat people suffering from a lack of clean drinking water and food. Dr Bilal Siddiq, a senior physician with Sahara Foundation, reported a rise in cases of diarrhea, gastric pain, fungal and skin infections, and malaria in the affected areas.
Haji Amjad, 45, is one of many suffering from health issues due to the floods, including infected feet. Rana Hanan, a lecturer at Narowal University, reported over 100 houses in his community being destroyed.
Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, visited flood-hit areas of Narowal district on Friday, and Punjab chief minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif promised to assess damages to homes, crops, and livestock and compensate for all losses. She also urged residents in flood-hit areas to move to safer locations.
The floods in eastern Punjab are the first to hit the region in four decades, and with fodder destroyed, livestock are falling sick without veterinary care. New Delhi alerted Islamabad about potential cross-border flooding last week, but it remains to be seen how the crisis will unfold in the coming days.
