— Flood Forecasting Division issues warning due to recent surges in major rivers
— Rajanpur braces for high flood levels as Indus swells
— PM directs NDMA to expedite relief operations, ensure preparedness
— Punjab evacuates 2.1m people from flood-hit areas
ISLAMABAD: The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Monday said flooding in major rivers across the province remains at critical levels, warning of further rise in water flows until September 9 due to ongoing rains in the upper catchment areas.
The Flood Forecasting Division has issued a warning due to recent surges in major rivers, indicating high to very high flood levels at several barrages and headworks in Punjab and Sindh.
On the Ravi, a high flood is passing through Balloki, where inflow and outflow were recorded at 139,030 cusecs. At Sidhnai, the situation is no different, with water measured at 120,597 cusecs. Closer to Lahore, Shahdara is facing a medium flood with 90,411 cusecs rushing downstream.
In Kasur, Ganda Singh Wala is under severe strain as the flow has risen to 319,295 cusecs. Down the Sutlej, Sulemanki has also been classified in the high-flood category, with a recorded inflow and outflow of 135,832 cusecs.
The Chenab is carrying massive volumes, with Trimmu Barrage recording a dangerous 543,579 cusecs. Meanwhile, at Head Punjnad, inflow and outflow have climbed to 609,669 cusecs, a level categorised as a high flood.
On the Indus, the Guddu Barrage is now in medium flood, taking in 401,352 cusecs and releasing 377,226 cusecs downstream.
Sukkur, long considered the river’s choke point, is under low flood with inflows of 338,050 cusecs and outflows of 299,200. Further south, Kotri is also feeling the strain, recording 243,743 cusecs in and 231,763 cusecs out.
Officials say the relentless volumes coursing through the system are testing riverbanks and embankments to their limits. Local administrations have been advised to remain vigilant, as the situation continues to worsen.
According to a PDMA spokesperson, the Sutlej River at Ganda Singh Wala is experiencing very high flood levels, with water discharge recorded at 319,000 cusecs. At Head Sulemanki, the Sutlej is flowing in high flood at 135,000 cusecs.
In the Chenab River, water flow at Marala has reached 84,000 cusecs, while Khanki Headworks is witnessing low flood with a flow of 147,000 cusecs. At Trimmu Headworks, the Chenab is flowing at 543,000 cusecs, posing a major risk.
The Ravi River at Shahdara is in high flood with 90,000 cusecs, while Head Sadhnai is recording a high flood of 123,000 cusecs.
“The risk of very high flood levels in Punjab’s rivers will persist until September 9,” PDMA spokesperson Irfan Ali Kathia said, adding that continued rainfall in upper regions could push river flows even higher.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to expedite ongoing relief operations and ensure complete preparedness for potential flood situations due to rising water levels in the rivers.
The prime minister, chairing a meeting to review ongoing rescue and relief operations in flood-hit areas, instructed to ensure early warnings and timely evacuation measures for populations near rivers and areas at risk.
The NDMA chairman briefed the prime minister on the current situation of flooding in rivers, the status of rising water level in rivers, and the relief operations for flood-affected people across the country.
Prime Minister Shehbaz directed the NDMA to maintain full coordination with the provincial governments and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities. He also instructed to intensify the search for missing persons in the flood-hit areas. The prime minister was also briefed on the displacement of people due to floods and the ongoing rescue operations.
The participants of the meeting were apprised of the severe flooding conditions in the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers at Trimmu Barrage, Panjnad Barrage, Head Balloki, Head Sidhnai, Ganda Singh Wala, Head Sulemanki, and Head Islam.
Reports indicated that convoys of relief goods were continuously being sent to the flood-hit areas.
Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabil Javed warned that by September 9, extremely high-level flooding is feared in the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers due to heavy upstream rainfall, which could further swell the rivers.
According to numbers released by the Flood Forecasting Division, Trimmu and Panjand heads at the river Chenab are experiencing extremely high-level floods, with Panjnad seeing a water flow of 609,604 cusecs of water but there is a steady decrease in the water flow. Head Trimmu is experiencing water flow at 543,000 cusecs.
At Marala, River Chenab has a water flow of 84,000 cusecs and Khanki Headworks is at a low-level flood with a water flow of 147,000 cusecs. Similarly, Qadirabad on the Chenab is at 45,000 cusecs, considered a low-level flood. According to PDMA Punjab, Ganda Singh Wala in the River Sutlej is experiencing an extremely high flood level with a water flow of 319,000 cusecs, while Suleimank is at a high flood level with a water flow of 135,000 cusecs.
The river Chenab has caused significant damage in South Punjab, with the second flood wave reaching Multan. About 543,000 cusecs of flood water from Head Trimmu will pass through Multan Head Muhammad Wala Road and the water level is expected to remain high for the next three days. However, despite the flood wave, residents of Qasim Bela, Langrial, and Sher Shah refuse to leave their homes.
Floodwater from the River Chenab has devastated Jalalpur Pirwala, with a red alert issued in the city. The Pakistan Army, Rescue 1122, and other agencies are continuing rescue operations in Jalalpur Pirwala with Rescue 1122 arranging additional boats. So far, 2,000 people have been successfully evacuated with approximately 400,000 people being affected by the floods in the River Chenab.
Head Jasser seems to be the only head on River Ravi that is showing a low-level flood with water outflow at 45,000 cusecs. But Shahdara and Sidhnai are both at a high-level flood with water flows of 90,000 cusecs and 123,000 cusecs, respectively.
