Pakistan Deploys Army for Flood Relief as India Warns of Rising River Levels

Pakistan has deployed army troops in parts of northeastern Punjab province to assist with rescue and evacuation efforts amid a growing flood emergency triggered by torrential rains and rising river levels caused by water releases from Indian dams.

India has alerted Islamabad about the “high probability” of flooding in the Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab, and Tawi rivers, prompting emergency response measures across several districts.

Troops have been stationed in flood-prone areas including Lahore, Okara, Faisalabad, and Sialkot, following a formal request from the Punjab government, according to an official notification.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources has warned of a potential “high flood” in several districts, as water levels continue to rise across the three major rivers.

Citing the Press Trust of India, officials in New Delhi issued a fresh warning on Wednesday regarding the Tawi River, after sustained rainfall in northern India forced authorities to release excess water from major reservoirs.

As of Tuesday, Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that approximately 150,000 people had been evacuated to safer areas. The agency urged all residents living near riverbanks to relocate immediately and warned of another wet spell expected to begin on August 29.

Both India and Pakistan have been grappling with widespread monsoon flooding in recent weeks. Since June 26, more than 800 people have died across Pakistan — including over 400 fatalities in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province since August 14 alone.

Meanwhile, in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, thousands of residents remain stranded after flash floods and landslides destroyed key roads in Ghizer district, cutting off access to several communities.