Authorities have rescued 250,000 people from inundated parts of region Deadly floods in Pakistan last year affected 33m people, caused 1,739 deaths ISLAMABAD: Rescue workers have continued to evacuate people from flood-hit areas of Pakistan’s Punjab province over the weekend as part of a weeks-long operation that has so far seen around 250,000 people moved to safer locations. Pakistani authorities have been evacuating residents in the province after neighboring India diverted water from reservoirs due to the ongoing monsoon season, and expanded rescue operations when the Sutlej River started overflowing and inundated several districts. National Disaster Management Authority officials said parts of the river, such as in Ganda Singh Wala Barrage and Islam Headworks, remained in high flood level as of Saturday morning. “The district administration will ensure all possible relief to the people of flood-hit areas,” Deputy Commissioner Omer Jahangir told the state-run APP news agency following his visit to affected areas near Multan city. Jahangir was accompanied by City Police Officer Mansoor-ul-Haq Rana, who reviewed rescue activities carried out by the police. “The police and district administration are shifting people to safe places,” Rana said. “All possible resources are being utilized to protect the lives and properties of the masses.” At least 213 people have died in Pakistan in rain-related incidents since the monsoon season began in late June, according to the NDMA. Around 250,000 people in flood-hit areas have been evacuated to safer locations, with authorities mobilizing hundreds of boats and personnel in rescue efforts. Last year, Pakistan was devastated by weeks of unprecedented floods that inundated one-third of the country, affected 33 million people, and claimed the lives 1,739 others. The floods also caused $30 billion in damage to the Pakistani economy.