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MULTAN, Pakistan: Displaced families began returning home as floodwaters significantly receded across much of Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province, where swollen rivers displaced more than 2.5 million people and killed about 100 during weeks of monsoon deluges, officials said Monday.

Photos and videos posted on social media show lush fields that once swayed with crops are now only sand and silt. Returning residents said they will have to replant while rebuilding their homes.

Floodwater levels are decreasing at Panjnad, where the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers all converge before flowing into the Indus, said Irfan Ali Kathia, the authority’s director general.

Rescue and relief operations in some districts are ongoing, officials said.

Nargis Bibi, 46, from a village in Kasur district, said the Sutlej river swept into her village home, forcing her to flee with her husband, daughter and two sons.

“We waded through 5 to 6 feet of water to reach a safe place, but the flood came so suddenly that we couldn’t take even a needle with us,” she said. “When we returned, everything was destroyed.”

Muhammad Sajjad, a 43-year-old farmer from an orchard-owning family, said floodwaters from the Chenab river had receded by about 6 feet near Multan, allowing his family to return home.

More than 4,500 villages in Punjab were inundated during weeks of torrential rains and repeated water releases from overflowing dams in neighboring India, according to the Punjab Disaster Management Authority.

The flow of water in the Ravi and Chenab rivers has returned to normal and levels on the Sutlej river is falling, the agency said.

India shared at least six flood alerts with Pakistan in recent weeks and the water releases swelled rivers in Punjab, causing significant damage, according to Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority.

The agency directed returning residents to follow instructions from local administrators so they can receive government assistance or stay in camps if their villages remain unsafe.

The flooding would not have been as severe if India had released water from its dams gradually, Pakistani officials said.

The floodwaters are moving south toward Pakistan’s Sindh province, which bore the brunt of Pakistan’s catastrophic 2022 floods that killed more than 1,700 people nationwide.

Punjab carried out one of its largest rescue and relief operations with provincial teams assisted by the military, Kathia said.

Stranded families in the remote villages of Liaquatpur and Jalalpur Pirwala continue to receive aid. Many displaced residents have returned to their homes in Narowal, Okara, Kasur, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar, Kathia said.

More than 950 people have died nationwide in flooding since late June.

DUBAI: Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson said they were disappointed by India’s decision not to shake hands after Sunday’s politically-charged Asia Cup match between the bitter neighbors.

India won the Group A encounter by seven wickets in the first cricket match between the sides since a four-day military conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors in May.

While the match itself passed without incident, there was no shaking of hands between the captains at the toss or among the players at the end.

“We were ready to shake hands at the end of the game, we obviously are disappointed that our opposition didn’t do that,” Hesson told reporters.

“We sort of went over there to shake hands and they’d already gone into the changing room.

“That was a disappointing way for the match to finish, and a match we were disappointed for the way we played, but we were certainly willing to shake hands.”

Pakistan captain Salman Agha did not attend the presentation ceremony, which New Zealander Hesson said was a “follow-on effect” of India’s refusal to shake hands.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated their victory to their armed forces at the ceremony, and expressed solidarity with the victims of the April 22 attack in Indian Kashmir which triggered the conflict.

In the post-match press conference, Suryakumar said the players were aligned with the Indian cricket board and government.

“We took a call (on not shaking hands). We came here to just play the game. We have given a proper reply,” said the batter.

Bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan remains suspended since 2013 and the arch-rivals play each other only in multi-team tournaments.

Sunday’s match went ahead despite calls in India for the team to boycott it.

India could face Pakistan twice more at the tournament, including in the September 28 final should the teams advance that far.