Lahore (CNN News Online) – The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has confirmed that at least 17 people have lost their lives in devastating floods across the province, while dozens remain missing. Rising water levels in the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers have triggered a humanitarian crisis, displacing over 1.2 million residents and inundating thousands of acres of farmland.
Rivers at Dangerous Levels
According to PDMA’s latest 9:00 pm flood monitoring report, fluctuating water flows continue to threaten critical headworks:
Chenab River: Marala Headworks reported 154,040 cusecs (falling), Khanki at 259,815 cusecs (steady), Qadirabad at 425,993 cusecs (declining), and Trimmu at 98,994 cusecs (falling).
Ravi River: Jassar recorded 99,470 cusecs (falling), but downstream water surged — Ravi Siphon at 220,627 cusecs (rising), Shahdara at 219,770 cusecs (rising), Sidhnai at 25,743 cusecs (rising), while Balloki remained steady at 117,490 cusecs.
Sutlej River: Ganda Singh Wala saw 261,053 cusecs (steady), Sulemanki reported 113,124 cusecs (rising), and Islam Headworks registered 54,756 cusecs (stable).
Officials have warned that sustained high inflows could put severe pressure on embankments and low-lying districts over the next 24 hours.
Humanitarian Impact: 1,400 Villages Submerged
The floods have so far devastated 1,432 villages across Punjab:
Chenab River: 991 villages submerged, affecting 769,281 people.
Ravi River: 80 villages flooded, displacing 74,775 residents.
Sutlej River: 361 villages impacted, leaving 392,768 people homeless.
Over 210,000 citizens have been evacuated to safer zones, with 25,000 sheltering in rescue camps. The NDMA further confirmed that more than 148,000 livestock have been shifted to safety, while 234 veterinary camps have been established to prevent disease outbreaks.
Government & Rescue Response
Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb praised timely evacuations in Shahdara, crediting them with preventing a larger tragedy. “Rescue 1122 and allied agencies are working round-the-clock. Boats are deployed and the top priority remains saving lives,” she said during a media briefing.
Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz, visiting flood-hit areas by boat, described the situation as the worst flood in 38 years, intensified by record monsoon rains and water release from India’s dams. “Every life is precious — had we not prepared in advance, losses would have been catastrophic,” she added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, chairing a meeting in Narowal, emphasized the urgent need to increase Pakistan’s water storage capacity. He highlighted projects like Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand dams, and proposed new reservoirs in Chiniot, stressing that federal and provincial governments must pool resources to fight future climate disasters
Rahim Yar Khan on High Alert
In southern Punjab, Rahim Yar Khan (RYK) braces for the largest Indus River flood surge since 2010, with up to 1.2 million cusecs expected in the next 36 hours. District authorities have declared a flood emergency, imposed Section 144, and ordered mass evacuations across 95 settlements, endangering 325,000 residents and over 557,000 animals.
Flood Classification (FFD Pakistan)
Low Flood – Flows just above normal, within riverbanks.
Medium Flood – Rising water threatening crops & villages near riverbanks.
High Flood – Dangerous overflow with pressure on embankments.
Very High Flood – Large-scale inundation likely.
Exceptionally High Flood – Water exceeds design capacity of barrages & dykes.
PDMA’s Public Advisory
Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed has instructed all deputy commissioners to stay on-ground, ensuring rapid evacuations. He reiterated:
“Saving lives and protecting property remains our top responsibility. PDMA and all rescue agencies are on high alert across Punjab.”
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