Pakistan’s Punjab Province Hit by Severe Flooding: Hundreds of Villages Submerged, 17 Fatalities Reported

Pakistan is grappling with the aftermath of torrential rains that have caused widespread flooding in Punjab province. Hundreds of villages have been inundated, forcing residents to seek refuge. The emergency services report that 17 lives were lost in the last 24 hours, with casualties in Sialkot, Gujrat, Narowal, Hafizabad, and Gujranwala. The floods are attributed to the rising water levels in the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers, triggered by heavy rainfall and the release of water from dams in India. Federal Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal has accused India of water aggression, claiming that India released floodwaters as a weapon. The Pakistani army has been deployed to assist with rescue and relief operations in several districts.