NDMA, Punjab and Sindh flood authorities warn of extremely heavy rainfall in southern Punjab, Sindh cities including Karachi n India releases water in Sutlej Five drown as Rescue 1122 boat capsizes in Multan amid flood evacuation CM Murad says Sindh prepared to tackle 800,000 cusecs water President Zardari asks authorities to get ready ahead of Sindh flooding.
ISLAMABAD, KARACHI, LAHORE – The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Sunday issued a warning for extremely heavy rainfall across southeastern Sindh from till September 10, cautioning that the downpours may lead to urban flooding in low-lying coastal districts.
According to NDMA, the rains are being driven by a weather system currently positioned over the Gujarat-Rajasthan border, which is moving westward and expected to bring intermittent rainfall across Sindh, southern Punjab, and parts of Balochistan until September 10.
The system poses a significant risk of urban flooding in vulnerable areas and flash floods in the Kirthar and Sulaiman ranges due to rising stream levels.
Additionally, heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast for parts of the Sulaiman Range and South Punjab, which may intensify water flow in hill torrents, increasing the threat of localized flooding. Authorities have urged the public to avoid crossing rivers and streams,
Take precautionary measures in flood-prone areas and follow instructions issued by local authorities during emergencies.
“Due to the rains, flash flooding is anticipated in the streams and rivers of the Kirthar Range, as well as in Lasbela and Khuzdar in Balochistan. Rainfall is also expected at a few places in the Koh-i-Sulaiman and southern Punjab,” it said.
Sindh’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) is taking emergency measures to deal with possible flood threats and provide relief to the people, according to a statement.
According to the statement, PDMA Sindh is providing relief goods and technical assistance on a large scale in potentially affected areas. “Four modern Turkish-made mounted dewatering pumps have been sent to the Larkana Deputy Commissioner, so that timely drainage of water can be made possible during rains and possible flood situations,” the statement read.
PDMA Director General Syed Salman Shah was quoted as saying that the situation is being continuously monitored in each district and the distribution of relief goods is being ensured through close coordination with the district administration.
President Asif Ali Zardari has called upon all concerned institutions to remain fully prepared in view of the heavy rains expected in Sindh from today.
The President directed provincial, district and municipal authorities to stay on high alert and ensure advance arrangements, particularly in low-lying and coastal areas which are most vulnerable to flooding, a presidential statement issued Sunday night said.
He also emphasized the need for close monitoring of water levels in Hub Dam and other reservoirs to safeguard communities.
President Zardari appealed to the residents of these areas to take precautionary measures and strictly follow government advisories for their safety.
He stressed that timely relocation to safe areas, where necessary, must be facilitated and that relief machinery and staff at the district and tehsil levels remain fully mobilized.
The President further urged the media and local administrations to play an active role in raising awareness among the public, so that risks are minimized and lives are protected.
The Sindh CM Murad, at a press conference in the Flood Emergency Centre, Karachi, has said that commissioners have begun issuing announcements across katcha (riverine) areas to ensure residents vacate their homes and move to safer locations.
He confirmed that provincial ministers are present on both the right and left banks of the Indus to directly supervise evacuations.
CM Murad said that approximately 324,000 people are likely to be displaced, of whom 128,000 have already left their homes.
However, most evacuees have chosen not to stay at relief camps, with some relocating to embankments, he added.
The Sindh CM said that the peak in river flows is expected on September 9.
“We are planning for 800,000 cusecs of water… peak is expected on September 9 at Guddu Barrage,” CM Murad said while speaking at a press conference in Karachi.
He added that the government has marked the areas to be evacuated, and people have left on their own volition as well.
Meanwhile, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that 6,288 people have been relocated to safe locations in Sindh during the last 24 hours. According to the data shared by the minister, a total of 128,057 people have been shifted to safe locations from flood-prone areas in 15 districts of Sindh so far.
In a statement, Inam further shared that 9,384 livestock have been moved to safe areas in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of relocated animals from flood-prone areas to 370,161.
The minister added that Tarbela Dam was filled to its full capacity while Mangla Dam was 88 per cent full.
Meanwhile, India informed Pakistan about high-level flooding in the Sutlej River after releasing more water in the river.
India established diplomatic contact with Pakistan, informing it about the situation. The communique warned of high flood at Harike and Ferozepur.
The Ministry of Water Resources, in the meanwhile, issued a warning letter to the relevant authorities, notifying 28 departments about the potential flood situation.
On the other hand, Panjnad Headworks on the Chenab River continue to record a “very high flood level as waters rush downstream towards Sindh, according to FFD’s data last updated at 3pm.
The outflows at Panjnad neared 600,000 cusecs, about 100,000 cusecs more than this morning. Guddu Barrage on the Indus River was still in a “medium” flood, with outflows of over 380,000 cusecs.
Both the points witnessed a rising trend of flood levels.
Continuing his press conference, PDMA DG Kathia said the flood situation in Multan would continue for the next 72 hours due to waters from Trimmu.
“At Shershah Bridge, only 3 inches of water have receded, but when water from Trimmu comes, this same flood situation will continue in Multan.”
Noting the waterflows heading downstream towards Sindh, Kathia noted the increasing levels at Head Panjnad. He forecasted that Head Panjnad would achieve its peak of 600,000-650,000 cusecs in the next 24 hours, before ultimately combining with the Indus River at Kot Mithan.
“After three days, it will enter Sindh at Guddu after passing through Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan, and the waters there could reach 750,000-800,000 cusecs.”
He warned that high flood levels reported in the Sutlej river, Harike and Ferozepur at 8am would “affect the downstream respective districts”.
It requested the district administrations to activate early warning systems, ensure the timely dissemination of safety and evacuation information, as well as strengthen embankments.
It also urged them to ensure pre-placement of heavy earth-moving machinery at chokepoints, put Rescue 1122 on alert, and ensure availability of essential food items.
The rescue and relief operations in flood-hit districts continued yesterday amid massive evacuations of population especially in southern Punjab.
Speaking to the media in Lahore, Irfan Ali Kathia said the total population impacted in these villages was 41,051,118, for whom around 425 relief camps and cities were set up.
He added that around 500 medical camps had been established, where around 175,000 people had been treated.
The total people rescued and relocated to safe spots so far are 20,073,048, while 15,022,452 cattle had been taken to safety.
Kathia said various districts of Punjab witnessed “very heavy” rainfall in the past 24 hours.
He noted that Mangla received the highest amount of rainfall in the past 24 hours (72mm), while Jhelum recorded 40mm, and other districts, including Lahore, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Gujrat, also witnessed showers.
“Its intensity is not as much as the ninth spell’s, but heavy rainfall has been recorded at some locations across Punjab in the past 24 hours.”
Recalling yesterday’s boat capsize incident, DG Kathia said Rescue 1122 had made 25,146 boat trips so far.
The PDMD warned in a statement that Jalalpur Pirwala is in a “very high flood situation”.
The statement added that PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia had been in contact with the Multan commissioner and deputy commissioner.
“All resources should be used for the evacuation of citizens,” he was quoted as saying. “PDMA Punjab has provided helicopters to the district administration for air rescue.”
Kathia added that all departments, including the Pakistan Army, District Administration, Civil Defence Rescue and Punjab Police, are on alert.
“Safe evacuation of citizens should be ensured at all costs,” the PDMA chief stated, instructing staff to inform citizens about the situation through announcements from mosques.
Since June 26, a total of 910 fatalities and 1,044 injuries have been recorded across the country. Among the deaths, 442 resulted from flooding, 252 from collapsed structures, and 65 from drowning.
According to the NDMA, 25 people died in landslides, 23 from electric shocks, and 26 from lightning strikes.
The highest number of fatalities was reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 504 deaths, followed by Punjab with 234. In Sindh, 58 people died, while Balochistan recorded 26 deaths. Gilgit-Baltistan reported 41, Azad Kashmir 38, and Islamabad 9.
Meanwhile, five people drowned as a boat capsized in the Chenab River in the Jalalpur Pirwala area of Punjab’s Multan district on Saturday amid a flood evacuation, according to officials.
Multan Deputy Commissioner (DC) Wasim Hamid Sindhu and City Police Officer (CPO) Sadiq Ali Dogar later reached the site for an inspection and were briefed by officials present there.
“The causes of the boat accident are being carefully examined. Initially, five deaths, including children on board the boat, have been confirmed,” DC Sindhu was quoted as saying in a statement. A statement from the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) also put the toll at five.
He ordered the rescue authorities to immediately intensify the search operation. “Rescue operations are being carried out to search for more people on board the boat,” Sindhu said.
