ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities evacuated over 76,000 men, women, and children from the adjacent areas of River Sutlej on Sunday, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said, after India released thousands of cusecs of water into the river, flooding it.

Government sources said the Sutlej River had received medium-to-high flood water after India released more water into the river on Sunday. A significant flood warning for Sutlej River was issued by the Flood Forecast Division, at the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

"Following the directions and forecast from Flood Forecast Division, the government departments concerned have evacuated over 76,000 people including men, women and children from areas lying near banks of Sutlej River passing through Bahawalpur division," APP said in a report.

"There is a risk of very high level of flood in Islam Headworks from August 22," a PDMA spokesperson said in a statement.

The local administration in districts adjacent to the Sutlej River were put on high alert Sunday morning and all institutions were on standby to deal with any emergency situation, according to Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabil Javed.

"Twenty-four-hour monitoring process is underway at the PDMA control room," he said. "District Emergency Operation Centers, including Rural Reporting Centers, are also fully functional."

Javed said there was no shortage of resources in any district and authorities had established relief camps in flood-prone areas. "The protection of life and property of citizens is our foremost responsibility," he added.

Pakistan is currently witnessing monsoon rains that began in late June. The showers have triggered flash floods in several areas and claimed more than 200 lives so far this year.

The rains have returned a year after climate-induced downpours swelled rivers and inundated at one point a third of the South Asian country, killing 1,739 people. The floods also caused $30 billion in damage in cash-strapped Pakistan in 2022.