Lahore: Thousands of flood-affected residents in Tehsil Alipur in Muzaffargarh district survived alone, despite being submerged, without access to food, shelter and basic supplies after formal and relief operations of the regional government.
The decision has put an already vulnerable community into a deeper crisis. In water villages including Azatpur, Lati Marhi and Bait Nabi Shah, stagnant floods continue to fill homes, but with official relief channels cut off, families have nowhere to go.
The government has also closed relief centres established in local schools, forcing displaced persons to return to their destroyed or embedded houses.
The scale of the disaster is huge. Of the 14 coalition commissions in Tehsil Alipur, 11 were swallowed up by the flood. Officials estimate that of Tehsil’s 700,000 people have been affected and forced to abandon their homes.
Regional official link provides further mitigation to complete damage assessment investigation
For residents like Abid Khan, this means living under open skies.
“All the houses in our Basti are broken down,” Abid said. “We have to live under the sky. We don’t have any tents, my children and other family members have to spend the day in the hot sun.”
Khan, from the Azhatpur region, added that his family had no rations and no feed because the cattle they survived were their primary source of life.
Muzaffar Gopang, from Quentala village, said his family had been robbed for 15 days.
“Our house collapsed and the water was still in trouble. We couldn’t even go back,” he said. Mr Gopang said their cattle were trapped on the river bank without feed and the family felt completely cut off. “The authorities did not visit our area.”
He described the scene of complete destruction, reporting that the flood reached 10 to 12 feet. “All of Basti Chandia’s houses were washed away. We were helpless and awaiting any relief. The minister and officials visited other areas, but we were not helped.”
Others reported receiving no assistance at all. Ghulam Fareed Chandia of Mullanwali said his community had not received a pack of rations in two weeks.
“No one comes from ministers or regions and the Thir government visited us,” he said. “All the houses of Basti Chandia were washed away. We were helpless and waiting for any relief.”
Muzaffargarh Deputy Commissioner Usman Tahir Jappa confirmed the conclusions of the rescue and relief phase.
“The rescue and relief operations have been completed and we are now starting an investigation to address the people’s problems,” Mr Jappa said. dawn. He added that relief will be provided upon completion of the damage assessment investigation.
Posted in Dawn on September 28, 2025
