🌧️ Flood Crisis Overview
Millions of Pakistanis are grappling with rising floodwaters following torrential pre-monsoon and monsoon rains. In Punjab province alone, over 60 fatalities were officially reported within a single 24‑hour span, with more than 250 suffering injuries
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has also recorded cumulative deaths exceeding 100 province-wide since the end of June .
Key flash points include Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Jhelum, and surrounding rural villages, where sudden cloudbursts—such as up to 470 mm of rain falling over just 24 hours in Chakwal—have caused flash floods, washed out dams, and triggered roof collapses.
🚁 Army Aerial Rescue in Punjab
On July 17, 2025, Radio Pakistan reported that Army Aviation helicopters were actively engaged in relief and evacuation missions across numerous hardest-hit locations
Rescues included:
Chakri Rajan village: 3 individuals
Chakwal & Khanpur: 27 people
Chak Monjo: 10 evacuees
Dhoke Bhadr: 31 rescued
Darapur: 38 civilians airlifted
These numbers come from official statements detailing both current and ongoing efforts.
In Jhelum district—covering Dhok Bhedar and Darapur—Army personnel carried out coordinated ground and airborne rescues, safely relocating flood victims and providing essential supplies, including medical aid and life jackets.
🛟 Rescue Units and Local Support
The Pakistan Army, working alongside district administration and emergency services like Rescue 1122 and the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), has deployed a wide array of resources. These include:
Helicopters for airlifting stranded individuals
50+ rescue boats and ambulances
Field medical teams and on-site clinics
Distribution of life jackets, food rations, and clean water
Evacuation centers and relief camps for displaced families.
Punjab’s Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz, declared a "rain emergency" in multiple districts—Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Jhelum, Attock, and others—and ordered sirens, public alerts, and local evacuations to mitigate further casualties.
📊 Intensity and Scale of the Floods
Data from Pakistan’s Meteorological Department (PMD) underscore the disaster’s severity. For example:
Rawalpindi area: 230–235 mm of rainfall in ~15 hours
Chakwal district: Up to 470 mm in 24 hours, including reports of 423 mm cloudburst events
Other regional flood gauges (Gawalmandi, Katarian, Pirwadhai) crossed 20 feet of flood risk threshold.
In urban centers, rising water levels have inundated underpasses, market areas, and arterial streets, paralyzing traffic and disrupting daily life. WASA Rawalpindi has deployed hundreds of pumps, jetters, suction units, and heavy machinery to drain roads and low-lying zones.
📣 Civil Response & Public Warnings
Authorities have issued public advisories urging citizens to:
Avoid canals, rivers, and waterlogged streets
Stay indoors unless evacuation is ordered
Use alternative traffic routes to avoid blocked roads
Cooperate with law enforcement and emergency services
Be vigilant of rapidly changing floodwater levels
In addition, Section 144 (public gathering restriction) has been enforced across Punjab to ensure safety around flooding zones, dams, and canals.
“Children were screaming for help, and women stood on rooftops, waving their shawls and begging to be rescued,” said Tariq Mehbood Bhatti, a farmer from Ladian village.
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