ISLAMABAD: Three children drowned in a pond in Pakistan’s Rawalpindi district despite a complete ban, authorities said on Monday, as the country’s most populous Punjab province issued a fresh flood warning till July 9.
The latest deaths bring the overall toll from rains and flash floods in Pakistan to at least 75, with another 130 injured in incidents such as electrocutions, house collapses, landslides and drownings since June 26.
The three children, aged between six and 10 years, drowned while bathing in the pond in Kallar Syedan area, according to the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
“There is a complete ban on bathing in rivers, canals, streams and rainwater drains,” the PDMA said. “Parents are requested to take care of their children and never let them bathe in canals, ponds and rivers.”
Expressed grief over the loss of lives, Punjab PDMA chief Irfan Ali Kathia directed authorities ensure financial assistance to affected families and ordered them to increase patrolling around rivers and ensure the enforcement of Section 144, which prohibits public gatherings for safety, in addition to informing citizens of the temporary ban through pamphlets, notice boards and mosque announcements.
The development came as the provincial disaster authority warned of possible urban floods in Punjab’s Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Rawalpindi divisions.
“There is a possibility of an unusual increase in the water level in the rivers of Punjab from July 7 till July 9,” the PDMA said, warning of possible deluges in Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi rivers and tributaries.
A high-level flood warning was issued for the Chenab river at Marala, while a medium to high-level flood warning was issued for the Ravi river and in Chenab tributaries, including Bahin, Basantar, Deg, Aik, Palkhu, Bhimber, Halsi and Dora.
Kathia directed authorities to stay vigilant and complete preparations in line with the Punjab chief minister’s orders, according to the PDMA.
Rescue 1122 and emergency control room staff have been placed on high alert, with instructions to ensure fuel availability, evacuate vulnerable areas and set up fully equipped relief camps.
Citizens have been urged to follow safety guidelines, cooperate with authorities during evacuations and contact the PDMA at helpline, 1129, in case of emergency.
Last week, a deadly flash flood in the scenic Swat Valley, caused by a sudden rise in water levels due to monsoon rains, killed 13 tourists.
Pakistan, home to over 240 million people, is consistently ranked among the countries most vulnerable to climate change.
In 2022, record-breaking monsoon rains and glacier melt caused catastrophic floods that affected 33 million people and killed more than 1,700.
