ISLAMABAD: More than 14,000 people, along with their cattle, have been evacuated from villages in eastern Pakistan due to the onset of monsoon rains, authorities announced on Tuesday.
The arrival of the summer monsoon is a critical period for South Asia, providing 70-80 percent of the region’s annual rainfall between June and September, and playing a vital role in the livelihoods of millions of farmers.
However, the monsoon season also brings with it the risk of landslides and floods, and scientists have pointed to the effects of climate change, which have made seasonal rains heavier and more unpredictable.
In Kasur district, near the city of Lahore in Punjab province, rising water levels have submerged at least 15 riverside villages and vast agricultural areas, causing significant damage to crops such as corn. The sudden nature of the flooding caught villagers off guard, despite warnings of a potential flood.
Ashfaq Bhatti, a villager affected by the floods, shared his experience, stating, “My family all made it out in time, but we have lost our livelihood. All our crops are now sitting underwater.”
Evacuation of Rains and Floods Affectees
To mitigate the situation, the provincial disaster management agency has initiated the evacuation of affected individuals to 11 relief sites. The floods have been exacerbated by India’s decision to release additional water downstream into Pakistan after experiencing torrential monsoon rains that resulted in over 90 fatalities.
Muhammad Farooq, another villager who had been evacuated, expressed the desire to return home and begin repairing the damage but highlighted the ongoing threat of further rains.
Since the end of June, weather-related incidents have claimed the lives of at least 50 people across Pakistan. The country is still recovering from the devastating floods that affected approximately one-third of its territory in 2022, impacting over 33 million individuals.
