LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Thursday visited several districts hit by the Punjab floods. Both leaders were briefed on the devastation caused by overflowing waters from the Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej rivers.
Before their departure, Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Inam Haider presented a detailed update to the Prime Minister about the overall flood crisis in the country. The briefing covered the scale of destruction and the ongoing relief operations.
During an aerial survey, PM Shehbaz reviewed rescue efforts in Narowal and Gujranwala division, the worst-hit areas. He directed authorities to take “all necessary steps” to reduce further losses and speed up assistance to affected families. The Prime Minister and Punjab CM were also scheduled to receive another comprehensive briefing during their stop in Narowal.
Casualties and Displacement
Officials confirmed that at least 15 people lost their lives in Gujranwala division due to the Punjab floods. The breakdown included five deaths in Sialkot, four in Gujrat, three in Narowal, two in Hafizabad, and one in Gujranwala. Three more people remain missing.
Authorities further reported:
-
Over 150,000 people and 35,000 livestock have been evacuated.
-
More than 600,000 people affected across the province.
-
769 villages completely submerged.
-
Millions of acres of farmland destroyed.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) stated that monsoon-related deaths this year are nearly three times higher compared to last year, raising alarm over the humanitarian scale of the disaster.
Kartarpur Gurdwara Underwater
In Narowal, floodwaters entered the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur. The grounds of the religious site were submerged, leaving over 150 Sikh pilgrims and staff trapped inside. They were rescued by emergency teams under the supervision of Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal and provincial minister Ramesh Singh Arora.
The Narowal–Shakargarh road has also been washed out for several kilometers, cutting off nearby villages and leaving communities stranded.
Widespread Destruction Across Punjab
Floodwaters spread deep into Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Okara, Faisalabad’s Tandlianwala tehsil, and parts of Sahiwal.
-
In Nankana Sahib, villages such as Hira, Nawan Kot, and Khizra Abad remain completely underwater.
-
In Okara, Jandran Kalan, a town with over 30,000 residents, has been inundated.
-
In Faisalabad, authorities warned that more than 100 settlements in Tandlianwala tehsil face serious risk.
The Punjab government has set up 263 relief camps and 161 medical camps across affected districts. Food supplies, medical aid, and temporary shelters are being provided to displaced families. Emergency teams remain on high alert as the Punjab floods continue to wreak havoc.
