Heavy rains flood Lahore streets. Image by Ashbel Sultan. Copyright Demotix (5/9/2014)

Torrential monsoon rains have hit Pakistan's Punjab province, causing the area's five rivers to spill over their banks, flooding over a thousand villages (in Punjab, Azad Jammu, and Kashmir). The death toll in Pakistan alone is reported to be more than 240 people. Hundreds of thousands of people are affected, as the floods have forced thousands from their homes. For a country already in a domestic political crisis, Pakistan faces a truly awesome disaster in the new flooding.

The Indus river system, which flows through the northern regions of India and Pakistan, is formed by major rivers of Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. Image from Wikipedia by kmhkmh. CC By 3.0

The overflowing Chenab and Jehlum rivers have caused the most damage. Waters spilled over both banks of the Jammu in Kashmir, flooding both Pakistan and India, after heavy rainfall began on September 2. Flash floods and landslides soon hit the Chenab and Jhelum rivers, first affecting India and then moving downstream to areas in Pakistan.

This year's flood is said to be the worst in the past five decades. Indeed, most eyewitnesses say they have never encountered a catastrophe on this scale. When the waters subside, the combined death toll in India and Pakistan could be extraordinary high.

Pakistan's NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) has declared the Gujranwala divisions in the Punjab province, as well as the Haveli districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, to be the worst affected.

Already swimming in political turmoil, the Pakistani government was quick to begin rescue efforts for those displaced and stranded in Kashmir, parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and in Punjab. Ordinary Pakistani citizens are at the forefront of relief efforts, donating and organizing aid through several charities.

Bloggers, Twitter users, and citizen journalists in Pakistan have used the hashtag #PakistanFloods to call for help, promote the need for donations and rescue workers, and also to report news from the scene of the disaster.

Faizan Lakhani, a journalist from Karachi, has tweeted images of the floods’ devastation:

Pictures explaining flood situation in Wazirabad. #PakistanFloods #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/b0YYicedOR

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) September 7, 2014

Earlier this week, Javed Malik, the prime minister's special envoy, announced he will soon launch a campaign to aid flood victims: 

Will be launching a campaign to raise awareness and extend support for the victims Floods in Pakistan #pakistanfloods & #IDPS

— Javed Malik (@JavedMalik) September 5, 2014

The danger in many areas hasn't yet subsided. Andrew North, the BBC's South Asia Correspondent, has raised alarm bells about the rising water levels in River Jehlum:

River Jhelum now rising every min at Trimu barrage with water coming fr India #PakistanFloods pic.twitter.com/YNUX3KRJ1i

— Andrew North (@NorthAndrew) September 8, 2014

This Facebook video capture the devastation of flooding in Sialkot.

Night War, a Pakistani Twitter user, posted the following pictures of half-submerged buildings in Wazirabad, one of the hardest-hit areas in Pakistan:

Buildings half submerged by floodwater after heavy rain in Wazirabad. #Punjab #Pakistan #PakistanFloods pic.twitter.com/0AZEVmK67S

— Night War (@battlehawk_) September 8, 2014

Ahmed, another citizen journalist, claims that the current crisis is the result of “criminal negligence” more than any natural disaster:

#pakistanfloods It's criminal negligence, not a natural disaster. @ChNisarAli @MaryamNSharif pic.twitter.com/mYzb6xEGNW — Ahmed (@amePTI) September 6, 2014

Faisal Kapadia, a Global Voices author from Pakistan, has worried on Twitter that the situation could become worse. Indeed, floodwaters continue to make their way downstream, toward Jhang and the Sindh province.

The coming monsoon rains.. seem like a tough period for us here in Pakistan…shudder to think what can happen

— FK (@faisalkapadia) September 6, 2014

Also on Twitter, Fatima Ali says rescue efforts are finding some success.

Since start of relief Operation, #Pakistan Army troops have rescued more than 17000 stranded people to safer places. #PakistanFloods

— Fatima Ali (@FatimaAli52) September 9, 2014

Reporting on the floods, it is important to consider Pakistan's current political turmoil. The legitimacy of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in particular, faces serious questions. Recently, in fact, protesters charged his motorcade, causing a scene in front of cameras.

Protester in front of Nawaz sharif car in sialkot and police man pushing him back & beat him #GoNawazGo #AzadiSquare pic.twitter.com/5F6FluIWxD

— Mujtaba Sharf (@MujtabaSharf) September 7, 2014

The NDMA in Pakistan has been issuing a daily “Situation Report” that gives a snap shot of the flood damage so far. The latest report, as published on September 8, can be viewed here (in PDF).

The government has taken criticism for its response, but citizen-led efforts remain popular. Engineering student Jihane Akharraz, for instance, welcomes the humanitarian efforts by ordinary people in affected areas:

Consideration to animals, commitment to education, Simply HUMANITY. Pictures taken in Kashmir #PakistanFloods pic.twitter.com/xzAZlb4IRD

— || JihaneAk (@JihaneeAk) September 7, 2014

The provincial government of Punjab, in Pakistan, and the local PDMA office have launched an online “Flood Relief Dashboard” to monitor relief efforts, as well as share high-resolution, real-time satellite images of the region's flooded areas. Authorities have also established a control room with dedicated phone lines to coordinate rescue and relief operations.

In a rare gesture of friendship, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif assistance with relief operations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

This is a developing story and downstream floods continue to cause further destruction and devastation in Pakistan.