Narowal, Sialkot Underwater as Army Joins Rescue Efforts

News Desk

Lahore/Islamabad: The Punjab government has called in the army to support rescue and relief operations in six districts after unprecedented flooding inundated large parts of the province, fueled by heavy monsoon rains and India’s release of water from dams on the Ravi River.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Lahore, Kasur, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Narowal, and Okara are among the hardest-hit districts. District administrations had formally requested military assistance, with the Punjab Home Department confirming that the provincial government has sought support from the Ministry of Interior for the deployment of armed forces.

Local administrations, Rescue 1122, Civil Defence, and police are already engaged in relief efforts. However, the scale of the disaster has forced authorities to seek additional military support, including possible use of army aviation units, to assist with emergency evacuations, reinforce embankments, and provide logistics.

India’s Water Release Adds Pressure

The crisis escalated after India opened all gates of its Thein Dam on the Ravi River. A second warning was also issued regarding the Madhopur Dam, which was filling rapidly. Satellite imagery reviewed by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) showed the Thein Dam nearly 97% full, making discharge inevitable.

Approximately 250,000 cusecs of water were released into the Ravi at Kot Nainan, submerging agricultural and residential land across Punjab. Rising water levels in the Dek Nullah have further compounded the devastation.

An Indian government source, quoted by Reuters, said that heavy rainfall had necessitated the water releases, stressing that communication with Pakistan was conducted on humanitarian grounds.

However, the move has reignited sensitivities between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, where accusations over water management often aggravate already tense relations.

Narowal and Sialkot Under Strain

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal confirmed that Narowal district is facing “emergency-level” flooding. In a statement on X, he said the local administration was actively engaged in rescue efforts but that the gravity of the situation required army deployment.

He urged citizens to stay vigilant, limit movement in flood-hit areas, and prioritize safety.

Meanwhile, Sialkot is reeling from swelling waters in the Chenab River. At the Head Marala barrage, inflows have surged past 900,000 cusecs—levels last seen in the devastating floods of 2014.

Although the barrage has a design capacity of 1.1 million cusecs, the current inflow has prompted an emergency military deployment. Deputy Commissioner Saba Asghar Ali said Sialkot has already received 405 mm of rainfall, forcing authorities to shut schools on August 27 and impose Section 144 to restrict movement in low-lying and high-risk areas.

The NDMA has directed immediate evacuations in localities near Khanki and surrounding villages, warning that the situation remains “extremely serious.”

More Rains and Flood Risks

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast widespread rain, wind, and thundershowers across northeast Punjab and Kashmir, with scattered rainfall expected in central and southern Punjab, upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and parts of Balochistan.

Heavy downpours could trigger landslides in hilly areas such as Rawalakot, Poonch, and Mirpur, while urban flooding remains a threat in Narowal, Sialkot, Gujranwala, and Lahore. The PMD has urged residents to remain cautious, warning that weak structures, poles, billboards, and vehicles may be at risk.

Relief Agencies on High Alert

Punjab’s Inspector General of Police, Dr Usman Anwar, has placed the police on high alert, instructing teams to assist in evacuation operations and ensure the security of relief camps. Regional and district police officers have been tasked with personally supervising ground efforts alongside local administrations and rescue agencies.

“Protection of lives, property, and essential belongings of citizens will be ensured at all costs,” the IGP stated.

Death Toll Rising

Since the onset of monsoon rains in late June, flood-related deaths across Pakistan have climbed to 802, with nearly half reported in August alone. Gilgit-Baltistan is facing accelerated glacial melt, while Karachi suffered flash floods last week that submerged parts of the city.

Officials warn that with rivers swelling and rain forecasts persisting, the coming days will prove critical in determining the scale of devastation across Punjab and beyond.

Input from Dawn and Express Tribune websites.