Rescue teams backed by the army rushed Thursday to evacuate thousands of residents from villages submerged by floods near the city of Jalalpur Pirwala in eastern Pakistan.

Authorities confirmed that rescue operations are ongoing, with Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed reporting that around 142,000 people in the region have been affected.

Many displaced families have sought shelter with relatives, while others spent sleepless nights on embankments or in relief camps after floodwaters destroyed their homes.

Rescue boats were seen pulling stranded villagers from treetops and rooftops. However, some residents complained that wealthier villagers had hired private boats to escape, leaving poorer families waiting for rescuers.