Catastrophic Flooding in Pakistan and India

Over 200,000 people have been evacuated in Pakistan's Punjab province as exceptionally high flooding has submerged towns, farms, and heritage sites. The floodwaters have engulfed the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara, a crucial Sikh shrine, and the adjacent Kartarpur Corridor, a special zone for pilgrims to cross the border without a visa. The impact has also been felt in the Indian state of Punjab, where footage showed the daily Beating Retreat ceremony performed in ankle-deep water on the Pakistani side. Authorities have attributed the worsening situation to heavy rain and water releases from upstream dams in India.

Key Takeaways:

• The flooding in Pakistan has affected over 200,000 people, with evacuations taking place in districts such as Narowal, Kasur, and Bahawalnagar.
• The Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara, a significant Sikh shrine, has been submerged by floodwaters, along with the adjoining Kartarpur Corridor.
• The Indian state of Punjab has also been affected, with footage showing the daily Beating Retreat ceremony performed in ankle-deep water on the Pakistani side.
• Rescuers are using boats to ferry stranded families and their livestock to higher ground, while aid agencies have converted schools into shelters.
• Army units have been deployed in at least seven districts, with helicopters used to drop supplies.
• Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that federal support will prioritize drainage and relief in Lahore, Sialkot, and Gujrat as more rain is forecast in the coming days.

Statistics:

• Over 200,000 people have been evacuated in Pakistan's Punjab province.
• 14,000 people were evacuated in Kasur district, while nearly 90,000 were taken to safety in Bahawalnagar.
• The floodwaters have engulfed the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara, a significant Sikh shrine, and the adjacent Kartarpur Corridor.
• The Indian state of Punjab has also been affected, with landslides along a pilgrimage route to the Hindu shrine of Vaishno Devi leaving at least 30 people dead.
• Pakistan has reported more than 800 flood-related deaths since late June, with half of them occurring in August alone.
• Floods in 2022 left a third of Pakistan under water, killed about 1,800 people, and caused £23bn in damage.
• Scientists have warned that the climate crisis is making South Asia's monsoons more intense and erratic.

Sources:

• [Neel Kamal (@NeelkamalTOI) on Twitter, August 27, 2025]
• [Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority]
• [Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's statement]