Author: News Desk

A shepherd in Shangla risked his life to rescue eight members of a neighbouring family and their livestock during the devastating floods triggered by a cloudburst in the district’s Puran tehsil.

According to reports, 57-year-old Sher Malik was at home on the night of August 14 when he heard screams for help from his neighbours whose house was surrounded by floodwater. The family had no men at home, leaving women, children and animals trapped inside.

“My house is on higher ground, and their home was almost submerged. The water had surrounded them from all sides,” Malik said, adding that he rushed there immediately and first rescued the children, then the women and shifted them to his own house.

The family then pleaded with him to save their animals. “They begged me to save the cattle, saying they would suffer great losses otherwise,” he recalled.

Malik went back despite the rising water levels. While rescuing a goat, the house’s roof collapsed on him, crushing his arm. “The roof was made of iron sheets. My hand was badly injured and started bleeding, but I stayed conscious.”

He remained trapped under the debris for nearly three hours as water rushed through the area. “After a lot of effort, I managed to free myself,” Malik said.

Eventually, he was pulled out and taken home with his arm tied in cloth. Unfortunately, he lost his hand, which was later recovered from the rubble. Community members carried him to a hospital in Peshawar for surgery.

When asked why he took such a risk, Malik said, “As a Muslim, as a human and as a neighbor, it was my duty to save their lives.”

“If I hadn’t been there, they would have died like many others who were swept away in the floods,” he said.

Malik, who depends on livestock for his livelihood, said locals are helping him with food and medical expenses. He recently returned home after treatment and continues to receive visitors who laud his bravery, and urge the government to provide financial assistance.

Shangla is among the worst-hit districts in recent floods that claimed 36 lives in the area. According to Rescue 1122, 31 bodies have so far been recovered in Puran alone while operations continue in Khowar Banda and Shati Dara.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has reported “exceptionally high floods” at the Shahdara barrage on the Ravi River and at Ganda Singh Wala on the Sutlej.

According to NDMA data, as of 6:00 a.m. today, the water level at Shahdara was recorded at 213,440 cusecs with a “falling flow,” while Ganda Singh Wala stood at 261,053 cusecs with a “steady flow.”

Meanwhile, the water level at Balloki on the Ravi showed a steady flow, while Qadirabad on the Chenab was in “high flood” with a “falling flow.”

Heavy rains are expected from August 29 to September 2: PMD

As the flood is already wreaking havoc in major parts of Punjab, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) announced fresh downpours across the country. According to the department, a westerly wind system is entering the country, under which heavy rains are expected from August 29 to September 2. 

Reports, citing rescue officials, claimed that flooding in the Sutlej River led an embankment near Jhangra Sharqi, Bahawalpur, to collapse, adding that hundreds of acres of crops in riverine areas have been submerged, while several houses were also inundated. 

Meanwhile, the irrigation department has reported a sharp rise at Head Islam in Bahawalpur, where inflow has now crossed 60,000 cusecs. 

Punjab Provincial Department Management Authority (DMA) Director General (DG) Irfan Ali Kathia has said that floods in Punjab have claimed the lives of at least 20 people, mostly in drowning-related incidents.

Kathia, while speaking to the media, stated that the majority of the deaths occurred due to drowning and were reported mostly in the Gujranwala division, adding that no loss of life was reported due to any negligence in rescue services.

He further announced that the Punjab government will give one million rupees to each victim’s family as compensation, adding that they made every possible effort to rescue people, whether via helicopters or boats.

“There is heavy to very heavy rainfall expected in Gujarat, Gujranwala, Lahore,” he said, warning that urban flooding is likely to happen.

Nestlé Pakistan has completed donations of 200,000 liters of clean drinking water, in the first phase to support vulnerable communities affected by the devastating floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan, following National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) calls for flood relief efforts, and has pledged an additional 100,000 liters for districts in Punjab.

Acknowledging Nestlé’s contribution Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik, Chairman NDMA, said, “I would like to thank Nestlé Pakistan for their immediate and urgent support in this hour of need. We are optimistic that with a generous contribution from our long-term partners like Nestlé Pakistan, we will be able to provide relief to the flood victims in these pressing times.”

Highlighting the efforts, Jason Avanceña, Chief Executive Officer Nestlé Pakistan said, “Access to clean drinking water is the biggest concern for communities displaced by flooding across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan and Punjab and that’s where we are focusing the bulk of our efforts,” he said, adding, “together Nestlé is committed to be a force for good for the vulnerable communities in these regions and supports the efforts of NDMA in these times of crisis.”

Nestlé mobilized 200,000 liters of water through the NDMA and district administrations in Buner, Swat, Swabi, Shangla, Bajaur, Gilgit and Skardu to support them in relief work for the people and the communities affected by this natural calamity. As NDMA issued flood alerts for Punjab, Nestlé also initiated mobilizing 100,000 liters of water for affected areas in Punjab.

The company is also working tirelessly to ensure that much-needed food and beverage products are available for consumers in these regions. At Nestlé, we care deeply for people and for the communities in which we operate, and we believe we have an essential role to play during times of crisis.