Weather in Punjab turns pleasant
All District Emergency Operation Centres were placed on high alert, and residents were advised to exercise caution. The PDMA warned people to stay away from electric poles and dangling wires, while the Director General urged the public to remain in safe places to avoid lightning strikes.
The severe weather also impacted the power supply, with several feeders of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) tripping due to strong winds.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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Express Tribune
19 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Fading hope amid ongoing relief efforts
Volunteers carry food, medicine, and other supplies for flood victims as they cross a rocky river in Buner district, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. PHOTO: AFP Pakistani rescuers dug homes out from under massive boulders on Sunday as they searched for survivors of flash floods that killed at least 344 people, with more than 150 still missing. Torrential rains across the country since Thursday have caused flooding, rising waters and landslides that have swept away entire villages and left many residents trapped in the rubble. Most of the deaths, 317, were reported in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, where monsoon rains that are only expected to intensify in the days ahead drove flooding and landslides that collapsed houses. More than 150 people are missing in hardest-hit Buner district, where at least 208 people were killed and "10 to 12 entire villages" were partially buried, officials told AFP. "They could be trapped under the rubble of their homes or swept away by floodwaters," said Asfandyar Khattak, head of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Provincial Disaster Management Authority. "Separately, in Shangla district, dozens of people are also reported missing," Khattak added. The spokesman for the province's rescue agency told AFP that around 2,000 rescue workers were involved across nine districts, where rain was still hampering efforts. "The operation to rescue people trapped under debris is ongoing," said Bilal Ahmad Faizi. "The chances of those buried under the debris surviving are very slim," he added. AFP journalists in Buner saw half-buried vehicles and belongings lying strewn in the sludge, with mud covering houses and shops. After days without power, the electricity supply was restored on Sunday afternoon. A grave digger, Qaiser Ali Shah, told AFP he dug 29 burial places in the last two days. "I have also dug six graves for children. With each grave, it felt as though I was digging it for my own child," he said. "For the first time, my body simply refused to carry me through. That's why today I apologised and said I cannot do this work anymore." Flooded roads hampered the movement of rescue vehicles, as a few villagers worked to cut fallen trees to clear the way after the water receded. "Our belongings are scattered, ruined and are in bad shape," shopkeeper Noor Muhammad told AFP as he used a shovel to remove mud. "The shops have been destroyed along with everything else. Even the little money people had has been washed away," he added.
Express Tribune
21 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Rains trigger widespread flooding
Heavy monsoon rains have pushed river levels across Punjab to dangerous highs, inundating villages, destroying crops and cutting off ground access in several districts. Local authorities have established flood relief camps, while rescue teams continue evacuations as the Meteorological Department warns of further rainfall and flash flooding. According to the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the province is experiencing the seventh spell of monsoon rains, which is forecast to continue until Aug. 23. Officials cautioned that cloudbursts remain possible in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Jhelum, Chakwal and Attock, while heavy downpours are expected in major urban centres, including Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad and Multan. In Kasur, the Sutlej River has risen sharply, submerging dozens of villages and vast tracts of farmland. PDMA officials reported water discharge at the Ganda Singh Wala headworks reaching 75,000 cusecs. Authorities warned that additional water releases from India's Harike Headworks could intensify flooding, further endangering communities downstream. The surge has destroyed standing crops, damaged hundreds of acres of agricultural land and displaced scores of families. Rescue 1122 teams have deployed boats to move stranded residents, while flood relief camps are providing food, medical care and fodder for livestock. In Bahawalnagar, breaches in protective embankments have allowed floodwaters to spread into villages, prompting the district administration to impose Section 144 to restrict civilian movement along riverbanks. Similar conditions were reported in Chiniot, where the Chenab River reached low flood levels, and in Kundian, where the Indus River is flowing in medium flood. In Narowal's Zafarwal tehsil, the Dek Nullah swelled with more than 22,000 cusecs of water, flooding nearby villages and damaging homes. Relief camps were established at multiple sites, and evacuation warnings were broadcast in low-lying communities. Officials also said India's release of additional water into the Sutlej had heightened risks in Chishtian, where sugarcane and cotton fields have already been affected. Farmers warned that further inundation could cause major economic losses. The Pakistan Meteorological Department issued a red alert, warning of heavy rains generating flash floods in streams in the Pothohar region and Dera Ghazi Khan. Urban flooding remains a major concern for low-lying areas of Lahore and Rawalpindi. Authorities also warned of landslides and mudslides in hilly regions. Strong winds and lightning could damage weak structures such as thatched homes, power poles and roadside billboards, officials said. At a meeting chaired by Provincial Disaster Management Committee head Khawaja Salman Rafique, continuous monitoring of river flows was ordered. It was reaffirmed that Section 144 will remain in place around vulnerable riverbanks. Authorities appealed to the public to follow evacuation orders, avoid unnecessary travel and remain alert to rapidly changing weather conditions. PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said citizens living in dilapidated buildings were also being shifted to safe places. The Punjab Tourism Department also issued an advisory restricting entry to rivers, streams and other high-risk areas. Emergency control rooms have been set up at tourist and heritage sites, while rescue staff have been placed on high alert. Travelers were urged to check weather updates before setting out and to call emergency numbers in case of danger. Over the past 24 hours, heavy rainfall was recorded in several parts of Punjab. Rawalpindi recorded 53 millimetres of rainfall at Chaklala. Jhelum, Sialkot, Mangla and Mandi Bahauddin also reported significant rainfall. Boats, life jackets and other equipment have been provided to people living around waterways.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
'My heart breaks': Malala offers condolences to flood victims
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and destruction caused by the recent floods across Pakistan. 'My heart breaks for every community affected by the devastating floods in Pakistan, from Gilgit-Baltistan to Azad Jammu and Kashmir and especially Buner, Swat, Bajaur and Shangla in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa,' Malala said in a statement. My heart breaks for every community affected by the devastating floods in Pakistan, from Gilgit Baltistan to Azad Jammu and Kashmir and especially Buner, Swat, Bajaur and Shangla in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. My deepest condolences to everyone who has lost loved ones, homes and… — Malala Yousafzai (@Malala) August 16, 2025 She extended her condolences to families who have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods. 'My deepest condolences to everyone who has lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods,' she said. Devastating floods and heavy rains in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have left 323 people dead and 156 injured, while the PDMA warned of more heavy rainfall between August 17 and 19. According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), at least 323 people have died and 156 have been injured in rain-related incidents and flash floods across K-P. The dead include 273 men, 29 women, and 21 children, while the injured comprise 123 men, 23 women, and 10 children. The PDMA said a total of 336 houses have been damaged so far, with 230 partially destroyed and 106 completely demolished. Read More: PM deploys ministers to oversee K-P flood relief as toll hits 323 Buner remains the worst-hit district, where 209 deaths have been reported. Other districts affected include Swat, Bajaur, Torghar, Mansehra, Shangla and Battagram. The authority warned that more heavy rainfall is expected between August 17 and 19, while the current spell is likely to continue intermittently until August 21. PDMA added that Rs800 million have been released to district administrations as relief funds, including Rs500 million specifically allocated to Buner. District authorities have been instructed to speed up relief activities and provide immediate assistance to the victims.
