Pakistan has evacuated tens of thousands due flood alert after India released water from swollen rivers, marking renewed diplomatic contact. Pakistan evacuated tens of thousands of people on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, from eastern Punjab province after India released water from overflowing dams and swollen rivers, prompted by heavy monsoon rains and a diplomatic alert from New Delhi to Islamabad.
Regional Significance
This evacuation highlights South Asia’s vulnerability to climate-induced flooding, straining Pakistan-India relations and testing their ability to manage shared water resources under the Indus Waters Treaty amid ongoing tensions. The event underscores the region’s need for coordinated disaster response and climate adaptation.
Pakistan’s Evacuation Efforts After Flood Alert
Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) initiated the evacuation of over 103,000 people, with more than 14,000 from Kasur district and 89,000 from Bahawalnagar near the Indian border, according to an NDMA statement. Rescue workers used boats and helicopters to move residents from flood-prone areas along the Sutlej River, which surged due to water releases from India. The NDMA urged residents to avoid rivers, streams, and low-lying areas, issuing alerts via media and its disaster app.
Heavy monsoon rains since late June have killed over 800 people nationwide, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province reporting 340 deaths since Thursday, August 22, 2025, per the provincial disaster agency. The latest flooding halted rescue operations in Buner district, where a cloudburst killed 20 and left 200 missing, a local official told AFP.
India’s Water Release and Diplomatic Context
India released water from its dams following incessant rains, notifying Pakistan on Monday, August 25, 2025, marking the first public diplomatic contact since a four-day war in May 2025. The move addressed potential cross-border flooding, though it bypassed the Indus Waters Commission, suspended by India after a tourist killing in April 2025, per Al Jazeera. Indian officials reported overflowing rivers in Himachal Pradesh, with muddy waters damaging homes and infrastructure.
Cross-Border Coordination Challenges
The water release reignited debates over the Indus Waters Treaty, with Pakistan alleging India manipulates flows, a claim India denies. The NDMA warned of further flooding risks as rains persist until late Tuesday, August 26, 2025, according to the Indian Meteorological Department. Both nations face pressure to balance water management and security amid climate change, which scientists link to heavier monsoons.
Background
Pakistan and India have a history of water disputes, exacerbated by the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which governs river usage. Tensions peaked in January 2024 with airstrikes over alleged militant hideouts, followed by the May 2025 conflict. This year’s monsoon, the heaviest in decades, has worsened flooding, recalling the 2022 disaster that killed 1,739.
What’s Next
Authorities plan to resume rescue operations once the rains subside, with the NDMA coordinating with local governments for relief. A diplomatic review of water-sharing protocols may follow, potentially reviving Indus Waters Commission talks. The flood alert situation remains critical as both nations monitor river levels and prepare for further monsoon impacts.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, August 27th, 2025
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