A wave of Pothohar flooding hit the region yesterday after heavy rains, forcing emergency actions by rescue teams. The district administration, supported by Pakistan Army personnel, moved quickly to save lives. More than 1,000 citizens were safely evacuated from affected areas.
A rain emergency has been declared in Chakwal, Jhelum, and Rawalpindi. Helicopters were deployed to assist in the rescue operations. According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), 398 people were rescued in Jhelum. Among them, 160 were airlifted to safe zones.
In Chakwal, 209 citizens were taken to safety. Out of these, 182 were shifted by the district teams, while 27 were rescued through aerial missions. In Rawalpindi, 450 people were moved to secure locations, and six individuals were airlifted from Nala Lai.
DG PDMA Irfan Ali Kathia confirmed that no casualties occurred due to the timely response. He added that heavier-than-usual rainfall is expected during the ongoing monsoon season. The fourth wave of monsoon rains is likely to begin on July 21.
Kathia urged residents to remain cautious and stay in safe places. He assured that every available resource would be used to protect citizens from further harm during the Pothohar flooding.
