Flooding worsens in Ferozewala after embankment breach
Flooding has intensified in Ferozewala Tehsil and several villages along the Ravi River after a protective embankment on a seasonal stream collapsed. The breach cut off the main road linking Pathan Colony with Lahore’s GT Road, making it difficult for residents to reach safer areas.
Rising floodwaters have submerged several feet of land in Rachna Town, Rana Town, Pathan Colony, Kot Abdul Malik, Muradpur, Jamke Cheema, and nearby localities around Kala Shah Kaku. Roads, homes, and farmland remain underwater, bringing daily life to a standstill.
According to reports, hundreds of families have started evacuating as water levels continue to rise. At least three children have lost their lives in separate flood-related incidents in the affected areas.
Residents said the flooding began after the embankment gave way, allowing seasonal floodwater to overflow into populated areas. Many families moved women, children, and elderly relatives to safer places, while some men stayed behind to protect their homes and belongings.
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Muhammad Riaz, a resident of Pathan Colony, said electricity has remained suspended for the past four days while floodwater continues to rise. He said his family had moved to relatives’ homes, but he stayed behind to protect household belongings from possible theft.
Another resident, Rasheedan Bibi, said floodwater destroyed most of her household belongings and washed away her family’s lifetime savings. She claimed that no government assistance had reached them so far.
Another resident, Abdul Rehman, said floodwater entered homes suddenly during the night, leaving families with little time to escape. Many people were forced to abandon their belongings to save their lives.
In Rachna Town, Muhammad Saleem said water levels have remained unchanged for several days, creating shortages of food and clean drinking water while bringing normal life to a complete standstill.
Rescue operations are underway, with Rescue 1122, Alkhidmat Foundation, and the welfare wing of Pakistan Markazi Muslim League using boats to evacuate women, children, and elderly residents. Relief teams are also distributing cooked meals, dry rations, clean drinking water, and other essential supplies.
A temporary relief and medical camp has also been established to provide free medicines, first aid, meals, and clean drinking water. Relief organisations said nearly 2,000 people have so far been evacuated to safer locations.
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Residents criticised the authorities for failing to issue timely warnings despite official claims that drones were being used to monitor the flood situation. They said proper cleaning of seasonal drains and the removal of encroachments before the monsoon could have significantly reduced the damage.
Locals also complained that no senior government or administrative officials had visited the affected areas, saying relief and rescue efforts had largely been carried out by charitable organisations and emergency response teams. With the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasting more monsoon rainfall, residents fear the situation could worsen further if another spell of heavy rain hits the already flooded region.
