[Today’s Prayer] Eastern Pakistan Faces Flood Risk from India’s Dam Releases… “150,000 Evacuated”

The eastern Punjab region of Pakistan is facing flood threats due to continuous monsoon rains and the release of water from upstream dams in India.

On the 27th, Reuters and other sources reported that authorities in Punjab announced late the previous night that India had opened all sluice gates of the Ravi River Tain Dam upstream.

No official statement has been released yet from India regarding the gate openings.

As a result, Punjab—including Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city—is now at an “exceptionally high” risk of flooding, according to Punjab authorities.

This announcement came a day after Pakistan had warned that the release of another dam on the Ravi River, the Mandopur Dam, from India could cause downstream flooding.

The Ravi River flows from Punjab in India into Punjab in Pakistan.

A Punjab official said, “The flood situation is serious, and the next 48 hours are critical.”

Earlier, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) stated that satellite analysis showed the Tain Dam is 97% full and could release water at any moment.

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Another Indian official stated that due to heavy rains causing significant damage in upstream India, they are sharing flood information to help prevent harm in Pakistan on humanitarian grounds.

This cooperation comes even as the two countries maintain tensions after a military clash in May.

Earlier, Punjab authorities began evacuating residents on the 22nd in anticipation of possible flooding.

Including roughly 35,000 people who voluntarily left their homes since the 14th, more than 150,000 residents have now been evacuated.

Authorities in Punjab are evacuating residents along the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers, with military personnel assisting the process.

Since the start of the monsoon in late June, floods in Pakistan have claimed 802 lives, with half of the deaths occurring this month. In Indian-administered Kashmir, 68 people have died due to flooding this month, including 8 yesterday.

Source: Nate News

“For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.” (Psalm 36:9)

Lord God, we hear that Pakistan’s eastern Punjab region faces flood threats from persistent heavy rains and the release of water from upstream dams in India.

Protect the residents of Punjab, Pakistan, who have evacuated their homes due to the risk of flooding caused by the opening of the sluice gates of the Tain Dam upstream.

Even as Pakistan and India had military clashes in May due to religious and territorial conflicts, they are now cooperating to share flood-related information. Break the chains of conflict between Pakistan and India, and let Jesus, the King of Peace who surpasses what Islam or Hinduism can give, reign.

May the global church advance with faith to pierce the darkness over Pakistan and India, and may the message of life be proclaimed through persistent prayer each day.

May the churches of Pakistan and India confess that the fountain of life is in You, worship Jesus as Life in the midst of hardship, unite in Your name, and boldly proclaim the gospel to those suffering from the floods, offering Your joy in the midst of sorrow.

So that Pakistan and India may rise as nations united in love, sending 100,000 missionaries from Pakistan and 1,000,000 missionaries from India to proclaim Jesus Christ to the nations!