MULTAN,SEPTEMBER 15:As floodwaters continue to ravage vast swathes of South Punjab, Rescue 1122’s specialized boat units have emerged as the backbone of the region’s largest flood evacuation operation in decades. With a fleet of 1,517 boats manned by trained personnel, the service has led a province-wide rescue mission that has so far saved over 543,000 people and animals combined.
Multan remains the epicentre of this effort, with 211 boats in action and more than 362,000 individuals evacuated to date, including 3,274 in just the last 24 hours. Muzaffargarh follows closely, with 174 boats and over 143,000 total rescues, while Rahim Yar Khan, operating 102 boats, has evacuated more than 53,000 people. Other districts such as Lodhran (1,832), Bahawalpur (1,531), Bahawalnagar (608), Toba Tek Singh (586), and Vehari (513) have also seen significant operations.
Over 1,000 people have been rescued from Pakpattan, 643 from Okara, and 478 from additional districts including Hafizabad, Jhang, Khanewal, Narowal, and Nankana Sahib. In total, 14,247 people were evacuated in the past 24 hours alone, underscoring the urgency of the ongoing crisis. Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmed praised the coordinated efforts of provincial departments and highlighted the integration of emergency medical camps, drone surveillance, and inter-agency support.
However, the crisis has also exposed South Punjab’s continued vulnerability to climate-induced disasters, poor embankment infrastructure, and inadequate early warning systems.
With monsoon unpredictability increasing year after year, experts warn that without long-term investment in regional flood resilience, such humanitarian emergencies will only grow in scale. Despite the devastation, community-led support volunteers, fishermen aiding rescue teams, and citizens sheltering the displacedhas demonstrated a spirit of resilience. Yet, as the waters recede, the long and arduous journey of rehabilitation begins, and with it, renewed calls for urgent reforms in disaster preparedness and management across South Punjab.
