The province of Punjab in Pakistan is grappling with its worst monsoon flooding in nearly four decades, as relentless rains and unprecedented water releases from neighboring India have triggered a humanitarian crisis of staggering proportions. Overnight evacuations in the city of Jalalpur Pirwala, backed by military and civilian rescuers, have seen more than 120,000 people uprooted from their homes in just 24 hours, according to Irfan Ali Kathia, director general of the Punjab Disaster Management Authority, as reported by the Associated Press.
The scale of the disaster is hard to fathom. Since late August 2025, torrential monsoon rains, cloudbursts, and dam water surges have forced 2.2 million people from their homes across Punjab, with more than 4.1 million affected in 4,100 villages spanning 25 districts. The rivers Sutlej, Chenab, and Ravi have all reached record levels simultaneously—a first in living memory—resulting in over 8,400 villages inundated, as noted by local authorities and Islamic Relief.
Jalalpur Pirwala, a city of nearly 700,000, has become the epicenter of the crisis. The emergency operation there began late on a Sunday in early September, continuing through the night as rivers threatened to engulf the area. In the words of Kathia, “We were able to save many lives through timely evacuations, though some people refused to leave until the water reached their villages.”
For those who did escape, the ordeal is far from over. Many survivors now languish in sweltering tents and makeshift camps, with little food or relief. Zarini Bibi, a 45-year-old mother who fled her flooded village by boat, told the Associated Press, “I saw doomsday in the shape of this flood. My home, which was my dream and my heaven, is now under water. I barely escaped with my children, and everything we owned has been destroyed.” She described living in a camp under the punishing sun, relying on scant donations. “It feels like we have become beggars,” she said.
The sense of loss is widespread. Tariq Ullah, another displaced resident, found himself living in a roadside tent after relatives refused to take him in. Yet, he clung to gratitude: “Thank God our lives were saved. A house can be rebuilt, but life is given only once.” He noted that the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League, a volunteer group renowned for its disaster response, was among those helping families like his.
The rescue efforts have been both massive and dangerous. Hundreds of boats, thousands of rescuers, and even military helicopters have been deployed. In one tragic incident, a rescue boat capsized on the outskirts of Jalalpur Pirwala, killing five people; fifteen others were pulled from the water, local officials confirmed. Despite the risks, emergency services official Muhammad Bilal estimated that about 70% of evacuations from nearby villages had been completed as of early September.
Technology has played a crucial role. Punjab government spokesperson Uzma Bukhari revealed that thermal imaging drones are being used to locate stranded individuals, enabling targeted boat rescues. “The government is doing its best to handle this situation,” she said, emphasizing the scale of the operation and the urgency of the moment.
But not everyone has accepted the call to evacuate. “Many residents refuse to leave, saying it is better to remain on their rooftops than to sit helpless on the roadside,” said Taha Muneeb, spokesman for the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League. Survivors told reporters of seeing neighbors perched on trees and rooftops, half-submerged in floodwaters. “I saw with my own eyes people perched on branches of trees, half-submerged in floodwaters,” shared Taj Din, one of the evacuees.
Relief is coming from beyond Pakistan’s borders as well. The Saudi government delivered 10,000 food packages and 10,000 shelter kits to the Punjab government, just two days after the United States sent emergency supplies for flood victims. These international contributions supplement the Pakistani government’s daily truckloads of supplies, though many in the hardest-hit districts report aid is delayed or insufficient.
Health risks are mounting as the floodwaters linger. Local health facilities are reporting a sharp rise in cases of skin infections, malaria, fever, and snake bites. Over 500 relief camps have been set up in Punjab, but only about 60,000 displaced people are living in official camps; most are either with relatives or in makeshift shelters along embankments, waiting for the waters to recede.
The crisis is not limited to Punjab. In the southern province of Sindh—devastated by catastrophic floods in 2022—more than 100,000 people have been relocated from vulnerable settlements in the past week. Multan, another major city in Punjab, remains at risk as river levels continue to rise, prompting authorities to prepare controlled breaches of embankments to divert water away from urban centers and toward rural areas as a last-ditch effort to protect lives and infrastructure.
Nationwide, the numbers are grim. Since late June 2025, monsoon flooding has killed more than 900 people and injured over 1,000, according to the National Disaster Management Authority. At least 61 people have died in flood-related incidents in Punjab alone since late August, with five more lost in the recent boat tragedy.
Despite the devastation, some hope glimmers. Islamic Relief has delivered cooked meals and clean drinking water to over 64,000 people and provided tarpaulins to 400 displaced families since the crisis began. Plans are underway to expand emergency response efforts to reach up to 7 million people for long-term recovery and rebuilding.
Coordination and monitoring at the highest levels continue. Punjab’s chief minister, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, is personally overseeing evacuation efforts from a central control room, while the Pakistani army, police, and rescue services maintain a visible and active presence in the disaster zones. Mosques have broadcast evacuation announcements, and local administrations have expedited evacuations with the help of troops and police.
Meanwhile, India has continued to share river data with Pakistan, warning of potential cross-border flooding as water levels in key rivers remain at the danger mark. The surges that began when India released water from its dams have swelled the Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej, compounding the impact of this year’s unusually severe monsoon.
As the waters slowly begin to recede in some areas, the long road to recovery is only just beginning. The immediate focus remains on saving lives, delivering aid, and preventing further tragedies. But for millions across Punjab and beyond, the scars of this historic flood will linger, shaping the region’s future for years to come.