Thousands Evacuated as 'Exceptionally High' Flooding Devastates Parts of Pakistan's Punjab

Some 200,000 people have been evacuated as floods devastate parts of Pakistan's Punjab province. Rescuers carried residents to safety in boats after disaster authorities warned of exceptionally high floods along the Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab rivers. Several districts called in the army to help.

It comes after Pakistani officials said India had warned it would release water from major dams upstream, acknowledging this would flood parts of what is Pakistan's most populous province. Both countries have suffered intense rainfall in recent weeks, with monsoon rains killing more than 800 people in Pakistan since June.

The country's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned people in affected areas to stay away from rivers, drains, and low-lying zones. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the federal government would fully cooperate with regional authorities to avert the risk of flooding, particularly in the urban areas of Gujarat, Sialkot, and Lahore – Pakistan's second-most populous city.

Sialkot has seen more rainfall in 24 hours than the highest record in the past 49 years, according to Pakistan's chief meteorologists. This has left cars, homes, and buildings submerged. Many of the city's residents are stranded, the federal planning minister has told the BBC.

Rescuers have been going door-to-door in villages, relocating residents and their livestock by boat. More than 32,000 people who were trapped by floodwater have been saved, as the BBC accompanied rescue teams in their efforts.

Despite the ongoing crisis, many residents are hesitant to evacuate, citing economic reasons and a desire to protect their properties and livestock. The situation remains critical as floodwaters continue to rise, posing an ongoing threat to life and property.