— Marriyum warns of unprecedented flooding in triple rivers threatening 11 Punjab districts
— Death toll rises to 41 as rising rivers inundate 3,100 villages across Punjab province
— 900,000 residents, 600,000 livestock evacuated to safety in Punjab
— Rescue continues as rising water levels threaten localities in South Punjab districts
ISLAMABAD: Punjab is grappling with the worst flooding in its history, with death toll rising to 41 while more than 2.4 million people affected and thousands of villages inundated, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb sounded the alarm on Monday as unprecedented flooding in the Chenab, Jhelum, and Ravi rivers threatened 11 districts, including Jhang, Sahiwal, Toba Tek Singh, Okara, Multan, Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, Vehari, and Bahawalpur.
DG PDMA Irfan Ali Kathia told reporters on Monday that heavy monsoon rains and rising river levels have inundated at least 3,100 villages and nearly 2,900 hamlets across the province.
He said rescue agencies are conducting the largest operation in history, with more than 900,000 residents have so far been evacuated to safer locations. Floodwaters have also forced the shifting of over 600,000 livestock. The provincial livestock department has provided feed and shelter for the animals. Authorities have established 390 relief camps to house displaced families.
Kathia mentioned that no new surge has entered Pakistan from India through Head Marala, although heavy rainfall continues to push water levels higher in various tributaries. At Nullah Leh in Rawalpindi, flood levels reached 19 feet at Katarian Bridge following fresh downpours.
Authorities briefed the chief minister at Head Trimmu, mentioning that controlled breaches have been carried out in some areas — including Rewas Bridge — to lessen the pressure on flood-hit districts including Jhang.
Rising water level
It is expected that water from the Chenab will reach Multan on Tuesday, combining with inflows from the Ravi. At Sadhnai, a major flood surge could require a breach near Safora overnight, potentially affecting 14 villages and 17,000 acres of land.
Similarly, Head Muhammadwala could see flows of up to 650,000 cusecs, with officials warning that as many as 16 villages may be impacted if breaching becomes necessary.
By late tonight, the Chenab River is expected to witness its largest historic flood of 900,000 cusecs. Additionally, floodwaters from the Ravi River are expected to merge into the Chenab tonight.
Severe flooding is reported at Trimmu, Balloki, Sulemanki, and Ganda Singh Wala, while medium-level flooding affects Khanki, Qadirabad, and Shahdara.
Water levels in the Chenab River have begun rising at Head Muhammad Wala, with the flow now surpassing 200,000 cusecs. Over the next 24 hours, a flood surge of 480,000 cusecs is expected to hit Head Muhammad. At Head Trimmu, water discharge has reached up to 550,000 cusecs.
In Rajanpur, the protective embankment of Samti village broke due to the flood surge, and water has rapidly inundated nearby villages and fish farms. The floodwaters coming from Jhang have begun engulfing all settlements in the Jawana Bangla area of Muzaffargarh. Currently, a flood flow of 400,000 cusecs is passing between Jhang and Muzaffargarh in the Chenab River.
The Sutlej River continues to wreak havoc in Bahawalpur, with riverbank erosion intensifying. Floodwaters have begun to engulf nearby areas, including Mari Qasim Shah, leaving residents stranded. A major flood is expected to pass through the city in the next two days.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a warning on Monday morning regarding upcoming rainfall. According to PMD, “widespread heavy to very-heavy rainfall, along with torrential downpours at scattered places, is expected over the upper catchments of Rivers Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, and Chenab, as well as in Lahore and Gujranwala divisions, during September 1 and 3.”
PMD also warned of exceptionally high floods expected in the Chenab, Sutlej, and Ravi rivers due to releases from Indian reservoirs. Urban flooding is also expected in Lahore, Gujranwala, and Gujrat divisions over the next 72 hours.
Relief Efforts
Rescue and relief operations by the Pakistan Army are ongoing in Okara, Sahiwal, Multan, and other affected areas. In Sahiwal, 24 relief camps have been established across 37 villages, while army and civil administration teams have relocated 9,797 people and 2,191 livestock to safe locations.
Medical camps have been set up at Attari and Suleimanki Head, and essential supplies, including wheat, have been delivered. In Okara, 487 people and 218 livestock have been moved, and in Sahiwal, 3,162 people and 4,593 livestock have been relocated.
In Multan, the flood relief camp in Basti Langrial has left residents struggling in extreme heat, with many reporting that tents promised days ago have yet to be provided. Victims also claim they were forcibly evicted from their homes.
The floods in Punjab have claimed 35 lives, affected over 2.3 million people, and impacted 2,222 villages. So far, 857,824 people have been relocated, with 383 relief camps and 375 medical centers operational.
Livestock relocation includes 551,769 animals, supported by 329 veterinary medical facilities.
Lahore, Gujranwala, and Gujrat may face urban flooding in the next 72 hours as parts of Punjab are set to receive rainfall, according to a Punjab PDMA advisory.
“A well-marked monsoon low is present over southwest Haryana and adjoining areas, while a strong trough of a westerly wave lies over the northern parts of the country,” the advisory read.
It forecasted that “widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall, along with torrential downpours, is expected at scattered places over the upper catchments of Rivers Sutlej, Beas (Upstream of Ganda Singh Wala), Ravi, and Chenab, along with their tributaries/nullahs, as well as in Lahore and Gujranwala divisions, during 1 to 3 September.”
In light of the situation, PDMA warned of rising flows in rivers, forecasting “very high” to “exceptionally high” floods in the Sutlej, Ravi and Chenab.
Balloki and Sidhnai on Ravi, as well as Trimmu on Chenab, have recorded a “very high” flood level, according to the Flood Forecasting Division’s data last updated at 4pm.
Trimmu logged in “steady” outflows of 550,965 cusecs gushing through it, while waterflows at Sidhnai were rising.
Ganda Singh Wala on the Sutlej River continued to witness an “exceptionally high” flood, with steady outflows of 253,068 cusecs.
Sulemanki on the Sutlej River was in a “high” flood, while Qadirabad on Chenab and Shahdara on Ravi recorded a “medium” flood.
The Guddu, Sukkur and Kotri barrages in Sindh logged in “low” flood levels.
More water from India enters Punjab; Sindh faces super flood risk
Fears of a super flood in Sindh escalated on Monday as a massive inflow from India entered Pakistan through Rangpur, inundating dozens of villages and cutting off road access.
According to flood forecasts, 1 million cusecs of water is expected to reach Head Panjnad between September 2 and 3, while Guddu Barrage is likely to receive 800,000 to 1.1 million cusecs between September 5 and 6, raising alarms across Sindh.
In Dadu district, floodwaters surged into three union councils of the katcha (riverine) belt, submerging villages and homes. Locals were forced to evacuate by boat. Over 30 villages in UC Sial, Munder, and Pat Sharif were flooded, leading to severe shortages of food and drinking water.
In Khairpur, the flood wreaked havoc in the katcha belt, submerging multiple villages. Even 11 police stations were completely washed away, forcing police personnel to vacate and shift to embankments. The Sindh Education Department declared over 1,000 government primary schools across Larkana district as flood relief camps.
A notification issued by District Officer Primary Anis Jilbani confirmed that 32,900 flood victims will be accommodated in classrooms across four tehsils — Larkana (307), Ratodero (308), Bakrani (214), and Dokri (146).
Meanwhile, in Punjab, the situation remains equally critical. Flood Commissioner Punjab confirmed that over 2,200 villages and 2.3 million people have been affected so far.
At Trimmu Headworks, the water flow surged to 700,000 cusecs by Monday evening, with a massive flood expected to hit Head Marala within two days.
The Sutlej and Ravi rivers at Bloki reached extremely high flood levels, with rescue operations underway to evacuate women, children, and the elderly via boats in Nowshera and Okara’s Mari Patan.
In Jhang, the Chenab River flood devastated hundreds of settlements, submerging link roads and highways. Key routes, including Sargodha Road, Pakkewala Bypass, and Pir Kot Masan Road, were submerged.
Heavy machinery from the Highways Department has been deployed for the restoration of roads, while Trimmu Barrage recorded an outflow of 479,000 cusecs.
The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued a high flood warning at Harike (Sutlej), putting district administrations of Lahore, Sahiwal, Multan, Bahawalpur, DG Khan, Kasur, Okara, Pakpattan, Vehari, Bahawalnagar, Lodhran, and Muzaffargarh on high alert. Rescue teams and district administrations remain on the ground, but with rising inflows, experts fear the worst is yet to come.
Embankments collapse, villages and crops swept away amid Punjab flood alerts
Embankments collapsed, flooding vast swathes of land and submerging villages in Multan after village as the Sutlej River sharply surged at Islam Headworks, and the water level in the Ravi River climbed up to a dangerous level at Kamala.
At Head Islam, water discharge was recorded at 70,000 cusecs, triggering a rapid rise in water levels. Dozens of low-lying villages were inundated, displacing thousands of people.
Near Luddan, a temporary protective embankment gave way, leaving more than 35 villages washed away. Crops of cotton, maize, sesame, and rice over thousands of acres were destroyed, compounding the crisis.
Women and children are facing severe hardships as locals scramble to safer ground. Rescue 1122, police, and volunteers remain engaged in emergency relief operations.
The flood situation worsened further upstream. At Head Ganda Singh Wala, the Sutlej carried 253,000 cusecs, while Head Sulaimanki recorded 135,000 cusecs, with flows moving downstream toward Head Islam.
Experts have warned that if a larger wave arrives, the situation could turn catastrophic, urging swift scaling-up of relief measures.
The Ravi River has also turned perilous. At Kamalia, water flows surged to 185,000 cusecs, submerging multiple villages and devastating crops, including rice and maize.
At Renala Khurd, high flood levels caused widespread destruction, cutting off land routes to several settlements, including Thatta Khachi and Thatta Chakar. The displaced are being shifted to flood relief camps set up by district administrations.
Heavy rainfall has intensified the crisis. Farmers lament that fodder for livestock has become scarce. In Narowal, floodwaters damaged a major wheat warehouse after its walls and roof collapsed, spoiling 6,000 wheat sacks and inflicting losses worth millions of rupees.
Sialkot city on high alert as India releases water in Chenab: In Sialkot, authorities declared a high alert from September 1 to 3 amid reports that India released water from the Salal Dam, raising fears of further flooding in the River Chenab.
Rescue teams and administration have instructed residents in flood-prone zones to evacuate to safer places. Announcements are being made in mosques across areas near the Chenab River and seasonal nullahs.
