Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Irfan Kathia Wednesday said around 20,000 to 25,000 people have been evacuated from areas along the Chenab and Ravi rivers due to rising water levels.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Kathia said the next spell of monsoon rains is expected to begin tomorrow but will not be as intense as earlier downpours.
He claimed India had not provided sufficient alerts regarding water releases, forcing Pakistan to rely on data from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and satellite monitoring.
Kathia added that no embankments across Punjab’s five rivers had suffered damage so far. However, he warned that the next 48 hours would be critical and urged residents of floodplains to evacuate to safer areas.
Sialkot sees heaviest single-day rain since 1976
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Wednesday said Sialkot has recorded its highest-ever 24-hour rainfall, breaking a 49-year-old record.
According to PMD, the city received 363.5 millimeters of rain over the past 24 hours, surpassing the previous record of 339.7 millimeters set on August 6, 1976.
The department confirmed that the new measurement is the highest daily rainfall ever recorded in Sialkot.
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Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday praised the timely rescue of 25 people trapped in floodwaters in Shakargarh, calling the operation a success and commending local administration and rescue teams for their swift response.
In a statement, the chief minister expressed gratitude for the safe evacuation and said every life is precious. "Those who rescued the 25 people are our national heroes," she added.
Maryam Nawaz said floods are a natural disaster but the government will ensure the protection of people’s lives and property at all costs. She urged citizens to stay away from riverbanks and flood channels, stressing the importance of moving to safer areas without delay.
