Mass evacuations are taking place in Pakistan due to floods

• Evacuated more than 100 thousand people in Pakistan due to floods.
• The first diplomatic contact between India and Pakistan occurred a few months ago.
• Climate changes are contributing to an increase in rainfall in the region.

Lahore, Pakistan — Pakistan is evacuating tens of thousands of people to safer areas after neighboring India released water from its overflowing dams and rivers in lower riparian regions, officials reported on Thursday.

This step came a day after New Delhi warned Islamabad about possible flooding through the border, which became the first public diplomatic contact between the two nuclear states in several months.

The National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan (NDMA) stated it had issued a warning about rising water levels in the Sutlej River and the risk of flooding, and evacuations from various areas of Punjab province are ongoing.

Along with the reported figures, rescuers have evacuated over 14,000 people from the Kasur district, and approximately 89,000 have been relocated to safety from the town of Bahawalnagar, which is situated close to the Indian border.

NDMA has urged residents to evacuate low-lying areas, streams, and rivers, to avoid unnecessary casualties and to remain alert for warnings that come through SMS, mobile phones, and additional channels for emergency alerts from NDMA.

The latest warnings about the floods and the evacuation campaign are taking place against the backdrop of heavy monsoon rains, which continue to affect the southern regions of Pakistan.

In the northwestern part of Pakistan, many residents this month have reported that they did not receive warnings prior to the time when heavy floods in the Bunair district claimed the lives of over 300 people. Officials noted that the sudden consequences were caused by heavy monsoon rains that could not have been predicted.

Overall, since the beginning of the monsoon season on June 26 in Pakistan, over 800 people have died due to floods.

In Kashmir, which is divided between two sides and is under Indian control, dozens of people have also died, while thousands have been forced to leave their homes in territory controlled by India.

Warnings about the floods were communicated to Pakistan through diplomatic channels, rather than through the Water Commission of India, which was established with the help of the World Bank in 1960, and was suspended by New Delhi following the killing of 26 tourists in Kashmir in April.

Pakistan asserts that India cannot unilaterally revoke this agreement. This agreement previously survived two wars between the countries in 1965 and 1971, and also significant modifications in 1999.

Pakistan has recently seen a significant increase in flood levels and a greater volume of rainfall than usual. The monsoon season in Pakistan lasts from July to September.

Scientists and experts attribute climate changes to the increased rainfall in this region in recent years. This year's heavy rains have caused the recurrence of floods, which also relate to climate changes that inundated the territory of the region and claimed the lives of 1,739 people.

Tags: Weather