Pakistan Floods Claim 849 Lives; Govt, Army Step Up Relief as India Blamed for Treaty Violation

ISLAMABAD, September 2, 2025 – Pakistan is battling one of its worst flood emergencies in recent history, with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) confirming that at least 849 people have died and more than 1,130 injured since the onset of monsoon rains on June 26. Millions have been affected nationwide, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh suffering the heaviest tolls.

Regional Impact

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP): The worst-hit region, with 465 fatalities, thousands displaced, and over 2,100 homes destroyed due to flash floods and landslides.
• Punjab: Facing what officials describe as the biggest flood in its history, more than 2 million people are affected as the Sutlej, Chenab, and Ravi rivers all surge to dangerous levels. Despite the devastation, proactive evacuations limited deaths to 165 so far.
• Sindh: Authorities are on high alert for a potential “super flood” as water continues to flow downstream from northern rivers.

India’s Role and Indus Waters Treaty Dispute

Tensions between Pakistan and India have intensified after Islamabad accused New Delhi of violating the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT):

• In April 2025, India suspended the IWT following a militant attack in Kashmir, switching official water-sharing notifications to diplomatic channels instead of the Indus Commission mechanism.
• On August 30, a gate collapse at Madhopur barrage on the Ravi River caused an uncontrolled release of water, flooding parts of Lahore and nearby areas. Pakistan’s Foreign Office called this a “serious breach of international law”, linking it directly to the ongoing devastation in Punjab.

National Response

• Government Efforts: Over 500,000 people evacuated in Punjab; 727 relief camps established nationwide, offering food, shelter, and medical care.
• Pakistan Army’s Role:
  • Rescued 28,000 people and distributed emergency rations, especially in KP.
  • Repaired three bridges, cleared 100+ blocked roads, and conducted multiple aviation sorties to deliver aid.
  • Set up 29 medical camps across Punjab, KP, Gilgit-Baltistan, and AJK to provide urgent healthcare.

Authorities warn the situation may worsen in the coming days as water levels in southern rivers continue to rise.

You May Like To Read:

• Deadly Earthquake in Eastern Afghanistan Claims 812 Lives, Tremors Felt in Pakistan
• PM Shehbaz, President Putin Interact at SCO Summit, Signal Warming Pak-Russia Ties
• Pakistan Army’s Disaster Relief Operations: From Earthquakes to Floods and Beyond