Punjab floods have once again brought misery to communities across Pakistan, as relentless monsoon rains and glacial lake outbursts wreak havoc in Gilgit-Baltistan and Punjab. On Tuesday evening, a powerful flood surged through the Juchar nullah in Gulmit, Gojal, Hunza, sweeping away parts of the vital Karakoram Highway, leaving hundreds of travellers and tourists stranded with no way forward. Meanwhile, in Punjab, authorities have issued urgent evacuation orders for communities along the Sutlej River, bracing for what could be the strongest monsoon spell this season. The human toll is mounting, and the heartbreak is palpable as families face the loss of homes, livelihoods, and hope.
Punjab floods impact
In Gilgit-Baltistan, the glacial lake outburst flood tore through the landscape with terrifying force. A women-owned restaurant, a government tourist facilitation centre, orchards, and farmlands were obliterated in moments. Critical infrastructure, including electricity poles and a fibre optic line, was destroyed, plunging communities into darkness and cutting off mobile and internet services. The Khunjerab River’s rising waters further damaged a power transmission line near Sost, while in Hunza’s Hassanabad, erosion from the Shishper glacier claimed two more homes, leaving others teetering on the edge. A local resident, speaking with anguish, described the flood’s intensity as unlike anything witnessed before.
The Karakoram Highway, a lifeline connecting Pakistan to China via the Khunjerab Pass, now lies severed. Efforts to restore access have been thwarted by relentless mudflows and rising water levels, rendering even foot crossings impossible. In Shigar district, flash floods struck Dogoro village, damaging homes and crops, while another flood blocked the road to K2, isolating communities further. The Gilgit-Baltistan government is scrambling to respond, but officials warn that climate change is redrawing the region’s map, with high river flows, erosion, and landslides complicating recovery efforts. The chief minister has ordered urgent action, but for those waiting on either side of the broken highway, time feels endless.
In Punjab, the situation is equally dire. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority has sounded the alarm, urging residents along the Sutlej River in Kasur district to evacuate immediately. With the river’s flow expected to surge next week, the threat of widespread flooding looms large. This monsoon season has already claimed 164 lives across Punjab, with 582 injuries, 216 homes damaged, and 121 livestock lost. The upcoming rains, forecast to intensify from August 13 to 17, could bring urban flooding to major cities like Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, and Sialkot, while landslides threaten Murree and Galliyat. Authorities are racing to clear storm drains and strengthen embankments, but the scale of the challenge is daunting.
In Kasur, preparations are in full swing. The deputy commissioner has assured that machinery and staff are ready to tackle the flood threat, yet the fear of loss hangs heavy. For farmers, whose crops have already been battered by earlier floods, the prospect of more destruction is devastating. The Indus River is also showing signs of strain, with low-level flooding reported at Kalabagh, Tarbela, and Chashma, where Tarbela Dam is nearing full capacity.
The Punjab floods, coupled with the destruction in Gilgit-Baltistan, paint a grim picture of a nation grappling with nature’s fury. Families displaced, livelihoods washed away, and communities cut off are a stark reminder of the growing impact of climate change. As rescue efforts continue and evacuations intensify, the resilience of those affected shines through, but the road to recovery will be long and fraught. For now, the focus remains on saving lives and rebuilding what the Punjab floods have so cruelly taken.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, August 14th,2025
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