Punjab Floods 2025: Over 1,400 Villages Submerged as Rivers Overflow, Disease Fears Rise
Sialkot, Pakistan – Torrential monsoon rains in Pakistan have triggered devastating floods across Punjab, submerging more than 1,400 villages after three major rivers — the Sutlej, Chenab, and Ravi — overflowed their banks. The disaster has left thousands homeless, raised fears of disease outbreaks, and exposed weaknesses in local infrastructure.
Families Struggle as Homes Drown
For 24-year-old Iman Salim, life in the village of Kamanwala, near Sialkot, has always meant dealing with seasonal water. But this week’s floods were unlike anything she had ever seen.
“The whole house has drowned. The water left nothing,” she said, describing how floodwaters rose above her chest inside her own home.
Her father, Sayed Muhamad, a 60-year-old laborer, estimated the family’s damage at PKR 500,000 (£1,300). With no electricity, gas, or drinking water for three days, rebuilding feels impossible amid Pakistan’s ongoing inflation crisis.
Emergency Declared in Punjab
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif declared a medical emergency across hospitals in the province as fears grow over outbreaks of cholera, hepatitis, and malaria. The stagnant water has also increased the risk of snake bites and skin infections.
Nearby, the Phalku River, flowing from Indian-administered Kashmir, burst its banks, washing away the possessions of hundreds of families in just hours.
Climate Crisis Worsens Monsoon Flooding
Pakistan contributes less than 0.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet remains one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to the climate crisis. This year’s monsoon, intensified by climate change, broke a 49-year rainfall record.
Since late June, more than 800 people have died nationwide, mostly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Authorities have already evacuated 300,000 residents from high-risk flood zones, but the scale of damage continues to grow.
Read more about climate change in Pakistan.
Villages Submerged, Health at Risk
Entire villages in Punjab, known as Pakistan’s “breadbasket”, are now underwater. With nearly half of the country’s 255 million people living in the province, food security is under threat.
Dr. Bilal Siddiq from Sahara Foundation, working in flood-hit Kartarpur village, warned:
“Fungal and skin infections are everywhere. We’re also seeing rising cases of diarrhoea, gastric pain, and malaria.”
Many families in Naik Wadi Chownk, Sialkot, have spent days without food, water, or electricity. Floodwaters mixed with sewage from blocked drains have created dangerous health conditions for children playing in contaminated water.
Infrastructure Failures in Sialkot
Despite being home to Pakistan’s only privately-owned international airport and a thriving export industry, Sialkot city has long struggled with poor drainage and waste management.
A $250 million Asian Development Bank project launched in 2021 to improve Sialkot’s sewage system has yet to resolve the city’s chronic flooding issues.
Local business leader Khawar Anwar Khawaja criticized authorities:
“They’ve got billions of rupees but they’re not doing a proper job. The drainage system has rotted because the local government is not cleaning and de-silting the drains.”
Community Relief Efforts
As government aid stalls, local charities like Sherzan have mobilized volunteers to deliver cooked food, milk, and clean water. Using tractors to navigate submerged streets, they are among the few providing relief to desperate families.
Volunteer Wajahat Mirza, who has worked in flood-relief efforts for 15 years, said:
“We can pray, we can do better on our end, but we cannot expect anything from our governments.”
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