Funeral Amid Floodwaters
In Bahawalpur, Punjab, floodwaters have caused such severe disruption that a funeral had to be transported to a cemetery by boat. The unusual and poignant scene unfolded in Khairpur Tamiwali tehsil’s Bonga Ramzan area, where swollen waters submerged key connecting roads.
According to Daily Jang, access to the cemetery was completely cut off by floodwaters. The grieving family, with the help of rescue workers, placed the coffin in a boat to make the final journey possible. Mourners followed along the submerged route, highlighting how everyday rituals have been deeply disrupted by the disaster.
Punjab’s Ongoing Flood Emergency
Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, has been grappling with heavy monsoon rains and rising river levels in recent weeks. Neighboring districts have also suffered, with Rising Flood Threat in Jhelum as Torrential Rains Inundate Villages highlighting the scale of destruction further north. Seasonal flooding is not new to the region, but this year the impact has been particularly severe in rural areas.
Dozens of villages remain marooned after rivers and canals overflowed, while farmland is inundated with standing water. Local media reports suggest thousands of families have been displaced. Livestock, a vital source of income for many rural households, has also been lost in large numbers.
Authorities have deployed rescue teams equipped with boats to assist residents. However, the scale of flooding has stretched resources thin, leaving many communities struggling to manage on their own.
Makeshift Solutions in Jhang
In Jhang district’s Khodran Baqar area, residents have devised unconventional ways to move around. With roads submerged, locals are using tires and rubber tubes as makeshift rafts to travel through waist-deep waters.
These improvised flotation devices are not only being used to transport people but also to carry food supplies, drinking water, and other essentials. For families living in low-lying areas, this has become a lifeline amid the ongoing emergency.
Disrupted Infrastructure and Human Toll
The floods have not only destroyed homes and crops but also paralyzed infrastructure. Roads, bridges, and rural pathways are under water, making even short distances impossible to cross without boats or temporary rafts.
Schools in several flood-hit districts remain closed. Health services, too, face significant challenges. With stagnant floodwaters, the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and dengue fever is rising. Humanitarian groups warn that without rapid intervention, the public health situation could deteriorate further.
Broader Context: Pakistan’s Flood Vulnerability
Pakistan is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate-induced disasters. Each monsoon season, communities in Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa brace for flooding. In 2022, catastrophic floods inundated nearly a third of the country, killing more than 1,700 people and displacing millions.
Experts link the increasing intensity of floods to changing climate patterns, poor water management, and inadequate infrastructure. Rural populations, especially farmers and daily wage earners, bear the brunt of these disasters.
Government and Rescue Efforts
The Punjab government and Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) have issued warnings and are working with rescue teams to relocate affected residents. Relief camps have been set up in some districts, providing temporary shelter, food, and medical assistance.
Yet, many residents in remote villages say help has been slow to reach them. Images circulating on social media show families wading through chest-deep water while carrying children and belongings on their heads.
Conclusion
The incident in Bahawalpur, where a funeral had to be transported by boat, underscores the extraordinary challenges Pakistan’s flood-affected communities face. Beyond the immediate disruption, these scenes reveal the deep vulnerability of rural populations during climate-driven disasters.
As Pakistan confronts yet another season of flooding, the resilience of ordinary people—whether through makeshift rafts in Jhang or the determination to honor final rites in Bahawalpur—offers a stark reminder of both the human cost and courage in the face of nature’s fury.
