ISLAMABAD: Urban flooding paralyzed parts of Peshawar and Lahore on Saturday as a new spell of monsoon rains battered Pakistan, while the country’s eastern Punjab province continued to grapple with high floods in three raging rivers flowing downstream toward southern Sindh, officials said.
The deluge began in Punjab on Monday after India released water into the Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers, destroying farmlands, sweeping away herds and affecting more than a million people. The three-river situation emerged as Pakistan was still reeling from heavy rains and cloudbursts since late June that have killed about 830 people nationwide. More than half of these fatalities occurred after Aug. 15, when monsoon rains in the north and northwest triggered hill torrents and flash floods that destroyed houses and swept people away.
In Peshawar, officials said heavy overnight rains triggered flooding in low-lying neighborhoods on Friday, prompting large-scale relief operations, with Rescue 1122 saying about 300 people were evacuated with the help of 280 personnel, rubber boats, water rescue vans and ambulances.
“A comprehensive relief operation is underway across rain-impacted areas of the city,” the emergency service spokesperson Bilal Ahmad Faizi said, adding that efforts were concentrated in Nasir Bagh Road, Warsak Road and Budhni.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur ordered senior officials of the district administration, PDMA and Rescue 1122 to remain in affected areas until operations end.
“Arrangements should be made to provide food and temporary shelter for residents of households affected by urban flooding,” a statement released by his office quoted him as saying.
The chief minister directed the district administration and rescue agencies to remain on constant alert in view of further urban flooding.
The statement also mentioned that one child was killed in Peshawar when the roof of a house collapsed, while three others were injured and taken to hospital.
LAHORE INUNDATED
Meanwhile in Lahore, torrential rains flooded major roads in places like Johar Town, Wapda Town and Canal Road, causing traffic paralysis and widespread power outages.
Local media showed water inundating wards and emergency units at Jinnah Hospital, while images of the Ravi River overflowing into a private housing society continued to circulate on social media.
The Pakistani authorities had already warned of urban flooding in Lahore and other urban centers in the region a day earlier.
Some of the residents of the private housing scheme inundated by the river told AFP they were caught off guard.
“We don’t know, water entered our home suddenly, we had no idea,” Rizwana, a housewife who did not share her second name, said. “There were announcements to leave the house. But where do we go? We live in a rented house.”
She said she had stayed back while the neighborhood became empty.
Another resident, Sikandar Mughal, said he initially stayed behind when neighbors evacuated, hoping the water would recede.
“But when the water level reached the garage of my house, I kickstarted my motorcycle and ran for my life,” he added. “I did not even get a chance to get my clothes or helmet.”
Pakistani authorities say the monsoon season is expected to continue until Sept. 10 after which they plan to assess the damages and formulate a comprehensive strategy to deal with such environmental catastrophes amid the country’s rapidly growing climate vulnerabilities.
With inputs from AFP
