Authorities warn of severe flood as Ravi, Chenab, Sutlej Rivers burst their banks NDMA records rapid surge in Ravi River Warns 200,000 cusecs flow at Balloki Barrage by 7am today.
NAROWAL/LAHORE/ISLAMABAD – Rescuers in boats raced to reach stranded families in several parts of Punjab districts Thursday, after three major rivers burst their banks because of heavy rain and the release of water from overflowing dams in neighbouring India.
The floods displaced nearly 250,000 people and officials said more than 1 million people were affected, with crops and businesses destroyed and many unable to leave their homes.
At least 17 people were killed a day earlier in Gujranwala district and nearby villages, ac-cording to police. Forecasters said more rain was expected Friday, after a two-day pause, and could continue into next week.
Provincial minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said floods hit 1,432 villages located along the Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab rivers, affecting about 1.2 million people and displacing 248,000 others. The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) warned of a severe flood threat in the Chenab River, forecasting a flow of 700,000 to 800,000 cusecs at Trimmu Barrage around 4:00 PM on August 31.
According to the advisory, potential severe flooding is likely to affect Jhang and adjoining areas, as floodwaters from the Chenab River are expected to surge toward Punjnad by the afternoon of September 3, 2025. A discharge ranging between 650,000 to 700,000 cusecs has been forecast, raising the risk of widespread inundation. Authorities have been directed to evacuate residents from nearby low-lying zones, while emergency teams remain on standby to manage the anticipated deluge.
Evacuation directives have been issued for potentially affected districts including Hafiza-bad, Chiniot, Multan, Punjnad and Bahawalpur, while authorities may use the left bank ar-ea of 18-Hazari along the Chenab River as a breaching site to mitigate the expected flood situation.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), a rapid surge has been recorded in the Ravi River, with a high flood ranging from 150,029 to 200,000 cu-secs expected at Balloki Barrage by 7:00 AM on August 29.
The flood wave is anticipated to reach Sadhnai by September 1, where flows between 125,000 and 150,000 cusecs may pose a serious inundation threat to surrounding areas.
Authorities have placed multiple regions on high alert due to the risk of flooding. In Lahore, high-risk union councils include Shahdara, Kot Mahbo, Jia Moosa, Aziz Colony, Qaiser Town, Faisal Park, Dheer, and Kot Begum.
In Sheikhupura and Ferozewala, vulnerable areas include Faizpur Khoo, Dhameke, Da-ka, Burj Atari, and Kot Abdul Malik. Ganeshpur, spanning Sheikhupura and Nankana Sa-hib districts, is also at risk. In Kasur and Pattoki, threatened localities comprise Phoolna-gar, Rakh Khanke, Nathi Khalis, Lambe Jageer, Kot Sardar, Hanjrai Kalan, Bhattrowal Ka-lan, and Noshera Gaye.
In Khanewal district, Ghauspur, Mian Channu, Umeed Garh, Kot Islam, Abdul Hakim, and Kabirwala may also be affected. On the directives of the Prime Minister, the NDMA is su-pervising all rescue and relief operations in the threatened areas.
The NDMA spokesman stated that the National Emergencies Operation Center is fully op-erational round the clock, with NDMA coordinating closely with civil and military institutions. Residents near rivers and waterways have been advised to relocate to safer areas and follow local administration directives. People in flood-affected zones are urged to avoid unnecessary travel and stay in contact with rescue teams.
Citizens are directed to prepare emergency kits with water, food, and medicines, safe-guard important documents, and use the NDMA’s Disaster Alert App for guidance.
The water flow at Shahdara reached more than 1,55,000 cusecs, while it is expected to increase to 2 lakh cusecs in the next 12 hours. Manga Mandi, Nol, Jhgian, Wada Abdullah areas of Lahore were severely affected. The Pakistan Army, Rescue 1122 and the district administration are in the field, and relief operations are underway.
In Narowal, the flow of 1,66,000 cusecs is at the Jasar place of the Ravi River and 8,000 cusecs in the Basantar drain. The army and rescue agencies are busy evacuating areas near the river in Renala Khurd. Hundreds of acres of standing crops have been destroyed by the flood relay, and the landowners have been severely affected.
In Qabula, Pakpattan, Arifwala, many villages including Qabula Land, Dilawar, and Nora Rath have been evacuated. In Pakpattan, the river is eroding the land and hitting the set-tlements, while a 100,000 cusecs of water is flowing in Arifwala, the evacuation process has been accelerated.
There is a very high level of flood in the Chenab River at Head Qadirabad and Khanki. The water flow at Head Qadirabad is 996,000 cusecs while its capacity is only 800,000 cusecs, due to which there is a risk of the dam breaking. A 859,000 cusecs of water is flowing in Khanki and dozens of villages are under water, crops have been destroyed.
In relief and rescue updates, 263 flood relief camps have been established. Where food and medical facilities are being provided. 365 rescue operations in 24 hours, 57,745 peo-ple have been shifted to a safe place.
In Bahawalpur, floodwater from the Sutlej River entered several more villages and sub-merged thousands of acres of farmland after fresh breaches developed in zamindara embankments in Bahawalpur district.
According to official sources in the Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122), breaches occurred in Yousuf Wala and Ahmad Wala embankments, allowing flash floods to spill into surrounding areas. Villages in Uch, Ahmadpur East, Dera Bakha, Lal Suhanra, Khairpur Tamewali, and Hasilpur were among those affected.
“Our teams are actively engaged in rescue operations and shifting people trapped by floodwater to safer places,” said Dr. Baqir, head of Rescue 1122 in Bahawalpur.
Officials added that the water gauge level beneath Empress Bridge on the Sutlej river had surged to 8.4 feet and could rise further to 9 feet.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Bahawalpur Division Ms. Musarrat Jabeen and Deputy Com-missioner Dr. Farhan Farooq visited the flood-hit areas. They directed all relevant depart-ments to intensify rescue and relief efforts for the affected population.
