ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan is reeling from its worst floods in nearly four decades, and officials say the catastrophe has been intensified by a dam gate collapse in India. The breach at the Madhopur barrage on the Ravi River, coupled with New Delhi’s recent suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, unleashed an uncontrollable surge of water into Pakistani territories, inundating vast swathes of Punjab, including Lahore and nearby districts.
Authorities report that the unexpected torrent struck when rivers were already at dangerous levels due to relentless monsoon rains. In an urgent bid to divert the floodwaters, Pakistani officials breached embankments—some with controlled explosions—to protect major urban centres such as Jhang and Multan from being completely submerged.
The humanitarian crisis is growing rapidly. Over one million people have been evacuated, while more than 1,400 villages have been washed out, crippling the agriculture belt and wiping out crops that feed millions. The death toll has surged past 820, with thousands more displaced and in desperate need of food, shelter, and medical aid.
Islamabad’s Planning Minister, Ahsan Iqbal, did not mince words, calling India’s actions “water aggression.” He stressed that the suspension of formal treaty communication channels deprived Pakistan of critical water data and early warnings, leaving vulnerable communities blindsided by the sudden surge.
Experts warn that the disaster highlights the dire need for stronger cross-border cooperation and modernised flood management systems. As climate change drives extreme weather patterns and aging infrastructure remains neglected, the risk of similar disasters looms large.
For now, rescue and relief efforts are in full swing, but the road to recovery—both infrastructural and diplomatic—appears long and uncertain.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.