Flood threat rises as rain lashes India and Pakistan

Heavy rains have pushed the threat of major flooding in Pakistan and northern India higher.

More than half a million people have been forced to flee in the past 24 hours as the flood threat in Pakistan ‘s eastern Punjab province rises, officials said on Thursday.

The evacuations brought the total number of people displaced by the threat since last month to 1.8 million, said Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed. He noted that mass evacuations were still continuing in the flood-hit Muzaffargarh district and other areas.

The action came as India sent out its third flood alert this week following heavy monsoon rains and water releases from dams to low-lying border regions.

India’s National Disaster Management Authority said the new spell of monsoon rains is expected to persist for a