India issues fresh flood warning to Pakistan as Sutlej river swells
Lahore: India has issued another warning to Pakistan about the risk of cross-border flooding, marking the second such alert in just two weeks as relentless monsoon rains bring loss of life and large-scale destruction across both countries.
Pakistan’s disaster management authority in the eastern region confirmed on Tuesday that the latest alert had been received. An Indian government official explained that New Delhi had passed on the information to Pakistan “on humanitarian grounds” via the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, bypassing the suspended Indus Waters Treaty.
Evacuations in border areas
Last month, Pakistan carried out mass evacuations after India released water from overflowing dams and swollen rivers into low-lying border districts. Officials now fear further damage as the Sutlej River swells. Floodwaters are expected to enter Pakistan on Wednesday, with authorities already reporting devastation in Kasur, Okara, Vehari, and Bahawalnagar.
Punjab’s Disaster Management Authority confirmed that the Indian High Commission conveyed the message through Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources.
Rains bring death and disruption in India
Heavy downpours across northern India have claimed at least 10 lives in the past 24 hours. In response, some schools and offices were forced to close on Tuesday.
Last month, floods, landslides and raging rivers killed at least 29 people in India’s Punjab state, home to over 30 million residents. Rescue operations, supported by the army and disaster response forces, have moved thousands from inundated homes.
In New Delhi, the Yamuna River, which flows from the Himalayas, crossed its danger level on Tuesday, sparking concerns for low-lying parts of the capital. Meanwhile, Gurugram on the city’s outskirts suffered severe traffic disruption after roads and housing complexes were submerged.
Severe impact in Pakistan’s Punjab
In neighbouring Pakistan, officials in Punjab province reported that more than 1 million people have been evacuated so far, with around 2.45 million residents affected by monsoon flooding in recent months.
The mounting crisis comes at a time when India and Pakistan remain deeply strained, with limited diplomatic contact between the two nuclear-armed rivals. Tensions nearly erupted into conflict in May, adding further weight to the rare cross-border communication prompted by the floods.
(AP inputs)