CHAKWAL: A flood emergency has been declared in Chakwal and Talagang districts after unprecedented heavy rains battered the area for two days, causing widespread damage and loss of life.

According to officials, the Chakwal district received 430mm of rain, the highest ever recorded in the history.

The heavy rains have submerged many villages, with scores of mini dams built by private individuals washed away, inundating homes and crops.

Although the authorities are still assessing the exact damage, there are reports at least two people lost their lives while several others sustained injuries in various incidents.

Emergency declared in Chakwal, Talagang districts

A man and his minor son died after the roof of their house caved in, while three men were swept away in the torrent, with one still missing.

The first incident occurred in Khewal village on Wednesday night where Shoaib Afzal, 23, was sleeping in a room with his wife and two minor sons when the roof caved in and the family got buried under the rubble.

An 18-month-old infant Haider Ali died on the spot whereas Shoaib succumbed to his injuries at the District Headquarters Hospital.

In another incident, three men traveling in car were swept away near Pinwal village when they were going to Chak Malook village.

Two of the passengers managed to come out of the water while the third one identified as Tassadduq Hussain is still missing.

The rescuers of Punjab Emergency Service were trying to trace him till the filing of this report on Thursday evening.

A Suzuki pickup driven by Muhammad Zareef was also swept away by a raging torrent near Budhial village on Thursday. He too could not be traced so far.

Another man namely Munir in Budhial village was busy in fishing when he was swept away by the torrent.

However, he somehow managed to get hold of a pole and the villagers later rescued him.

Another man in Trimni village was rescued by the locals and saved from drowning.

Chakwal’s Deputy Commissioner Sarah Hayat announced a flood emergency in the districts Chakwal and Talagang. She directed all the concerned officers to remain present at the place of duty for 24 hours.

The leaves of all the officers and employees of the local administration have been cancelled.

Score of mini dams built by private individuals were also washed away by the torrents, inundating many villages.

Budhial village was submerged after a mini dam was broken in Ghokal village.

“I have never witnessed such kind of flooding in my village”, Prof Syed Ali Raza from Budhial told Dawn.

He added that five to six feet of rainwater got accumulated in the houses, forcing people to leave their homes. The bridge on the road which connects Budhial to rest of the area was also swept away.

The authorities evacuated Dhoke Mastani, a small hamlet near Padshahan village, on Wednesday night after the heavy rain.

Dhoda, Hasola, Chakral, Khewal, Odhwal, Takia Shah Murad, Mohra Mast, Khanpur, Choa Saidan Shah, Dharabi, Sidhar and Karsal were among the other worst hit villages.

A mini dam near Dharabi village was ripped apart submerging many houses.

An official of the PMD told BBC Urdu that heavy rain occurred in Chakwal was not the result of a cloudburst rather he termed it as intense rain of monsoon season.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2025