• Source:JND
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Pakistan Flood:  A dramatic video showing a journalist being swept away by the strong floodwaters at Chahan Dam in Rawalpindi has become viral, bringing to light the severe extent of the continuous floods in Pakistan and fueling harsh debate on media safety and responsibility. Though The Daily Jagran has not independently verified this video.  It happened during a live report when the journalist, who was in the middle of a flood with the microphone in his hand, was reporting about the flooding that had resulted from the rising waters. As the current grew stronger, the reporter struggled before being dragged underwater, leaving only his head and the mic apparent towards the end of the video clip. The video, which has been viewed millions of times by Al Arabiya English users and other media sources on social media, has evoked an overwhelming response of reactions.

More Than 150 Killed, Millions Hit

Official reports indicate that heavy monsoon rains since June 26 have killed at least 159 individuals across the country. Punjab province remains the most affected with 103 deaths, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan, and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Rawalpindi, where the accident took place, has been inundated following the breaching of Chahan Dam, making relief and rescue attempts even more difficult. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) indicated that more than 1,000 houses have been damaged, rendering thousands homeless. A high flood alert has been sounded at the River Jhelum at Mangla, with authorities warning that adjacent streams to overflow and inundate more communities in the next 24 hours.

The Daily Jagran has not independently verified this video. 

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The video has generated a lot of controversy regarding the risks journalists face while reporting on life-threatening circumstances. While some social media users applauded the reporter's courage and dedication to ground reporting, others criticized news channels for sending reporters into hazardous zones to garner more TRP. Media watchdogs and journalists' associations requested stricter safety measures to avoid such scenarios in the future.

The monsoon rains are a recurring annual phenomenon in South Asia that is essential for agriculture and water management. Nevertheless, specialists state that haphazard urbanization, inadequate drainage, and more intense weather patterns attributed to climate change have made the effects of floods in Pakistan worse.

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Rescue and relief efforts are in full swing at a hectic pace in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan. Hundreds of families have been rescued, with thousands still stranded without electricity, access to clean water, or essential supplies. People have been asked to stay away from waterlogged areas and heed safety warnings by the authorities as heavy showers are predicted to persist in the next few days.