Lahore: A sudden flood from the rising Ravi River has wiped out the homes of over 400 Christian families in Chung Lahore. 

Families who already lived in poverty have lost everything—furniture, belongings, and years of hard work washed away in hours. 

Many are now taking refuge in a church, without food, medicine, or basic necessities. 

BACA is urgently seeking support to provide life-saving food packages (£100 each) to help these families survive. 

On 26th August, disaster struck when the rising Ravi River broke its banks and surged into Christian Colony, Chung Lahore. Within hours, floodwaters submerged homes and displaced over 400 Christian families, most of whom earn a living as road sweepers and cleaners. 

When the BACA team visited on 31st August, residents described how quickly the situation escalated, leaving them little time to prepare or save their belongings. 

“At first, the water came slowly and did not seem threatening. But within just two hours it had risen to five feet, and many houses on the lower ground were completely submerged,” said Saleem Masih, one of the victims. 

This is the worst flooding the Ravi River has seen in 38 years. At Shahdara, an unprecedented 238,000 cusecs of water overflowed the riverbanks, devastating entire communities across Punjab. 

floodwaters sweeping through the colony 
Families Forced to Flee 

As water levels rose, families were forced to abandon their homes. Many sought shelter with relatives, while others had nowhere to turn and found refuge in Saint Thomas Church, which is now housing around 150 displaced people. 

Conditions remain dire. Families lack food, medicine, clean water, and shelter support from either the government or local authorities. 

Families seeking safety within the walls of Saint Thomas Church 

“We survived only by praying to God for safety,” said Saleem Masih, a flood victim. 

Shahida Bibi, another flood victim, explained her loss: 

“Floodwater has destroyed everything in my house—from furniture to blankets and appliances. We bought our land in instalments and built the house with borrowed money. Now everything is gone.” 

For many, years of sacrifice and hard work were washed away in hours. Even today, many homes remain locked, their owners unable to return until basic services such as electricity, gas, and clean water are restored. 

An Urgent Need 

Stagnant water in surrounding fields has become a breeding ground for mosquitos, raising fears of malaria and other water-borne diseases. Already living below the poverty line, these families are now battling hunger, illness, and the immense challenge of rebuilding their lives. 

During our visit, Church elder Nadeem Masih pleaded for urgent assistance: 

“Our families have lost everything. We urgently need food to survive—please help us.” 

Juliet Chowdhry, trustee of the British Asian Christian Association, added: 

“These families were already living in extremely vulnerable conditions, yet they face this disaster with remarkable faith. We cannot leave them to suffer alone. BACA is committed to standing with them, but we urgently need your support to provide life-saving food and aid.” 

Although the water has receded, the risk of disease remains high