PDMA warns of possibility of very high flood in Ravi, Sutlej, Chenab Rivers amid more evacuations Met office predicts moderate to heavy rainfall in various parts of country Faisalabad receives 175 mm rain At least 2.48 million people affected by floods in Punjab: PDMA.
BAHAWALPUR/ISLAMABAD/FAISALABAD – Heavy monsoon rains and flooding continue to engulf the largest Punjab province, prompting authorities to order new evacuation in low-lying areas. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Monday predicted moderate to heavy rainfall in various areas of the country during the next 12 to 24 hours.
Pakistan Meteorological Department in a post on X said that rains were persisting across the country as another intense monsoon system is expected to bring exceptional downpours in southern parts during the next two days.
Severe flooding in the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers as well as heavy rains have triggered mass evacuations across Punjab, with officials now warning that more than 2.48 million people were directly affected, while people in millions along both banks of the rivers are at risk. The flood situation in these major rivers of Punjab has taken a dangerous turn.
According to a Punjab PDMA report, a total of 3,129 locations across Punjab were affected due to severe flood conditions in the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers while 932,323 people have been shifted to safe places so far. Likewise, 390 relief camps have been established across the province for the accommodation and food of the victims, where 16,218 people are staying and they are being provided with food and other facilities.
A document of the authority reveals that the situation of extremely high flood levels persists at various places in the Sutlej, Chenab and Ravi rivers, while the water flow is continuously increasing at other places.
According to the PDMA sources, the water flow at the Sutlej Ganda Singh Wala point is 319 thousand cusecs, which is an extremely high flood level, the Sutlej Sulemanki river is experiencing high flood levels with 135 thousand cusecs, the Chenab Marala river recorded a water flow of 84 thousand cusecs, and the Chenab river is experiencing low flood levels with 147 thousand cusecs at the Khanki and Qadirabad barrages.
Apart from this, the situation is most serious at the headworks where the water flow is 543,000 cusecs, which indicates a very high level of flood, low level flood at the Ravi at Jasar with 45,000 cusecs. Similarly, there is a high level of flood at Shahdara with 90,000 cusecs, severe flood at the Balloki headworks with 139,000 cusecs and at the head Sudhanai with 123,000 cusecs.
PDMA said there is a possibility of very high level of flood in the Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab rivers by September 9. Due to the ongoing heavy rains in the upper areas, the flow of the rivers may increase significantly.
The DG PDMA has said that under the instructions of the Chief Minister of Punjab, all the relevant institutions are on high alert and surveillance has been increased in the low-lying areas. All resources are being utilised to protect the lives and property of the citizens.
On Sunday, India alerted Pakistan of high floods on the Sutlej River, warning that the monsoon rain would affect downstream districts.
The flood from the river Sutlej was playing havoc in the Bahawalpur district as water had entered in several more rural areas. The official sources of the Punjab Emergency Service, Rescue 1122 and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) had confirmed that water had entered in several more villages and inundated thousands of acres of land. “The water had entered villages Gulab Ghalwan, Khairpur Daha, Dhor Kot, Goth Mitha, Chailay Wahan, Mamna, Kaliar and others.
Head of the Punjab Emergency Service, Rescue 1122 Bahawalpur Dr Baqir Hussain said that rescue teams along with boats and rescue machinery had reached the affected areas and rescue operation was underway. “People are being evacuated from villages where water has entered and they are being shifted to safe areas,” he said, adding that several relief camps had also been established for flood-affectees.
The official sources in the district management said that water gauge level beneath Empress Bridge on Sutlej river in Bahawalpur had exceeded from 12 feet as over 90,000 cusec water had been flowing beneath the bridge. They, however, said that machinery was being used day and night to strengthen the embankment of the Sutlej river in Bahawalpur.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued an urgent weather advisory warning of heavy rainfall across parts of Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan over the next 12 to 24 hours.
According to an alert from the National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC), intermittent rainfall is forecast in the northeastern and southern districts of Punjab, including Gujranwala, Sialkot, Lahore, Hafizabad, Faisalabad, Chiniot, and Sargodha.
Meanwhile, heavy and thunderous downpours are expected in Multan, Layyah, Khanewal, Vehari, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Khanpur, Rajanpur, Liaqatpur, Zahir Pir, Sadiqabad, and Rahim Yar Khan. The NEOC has warned of urban flooding, overflowing streams, and landslides in hilly areas due to the intensity of the rainfall.
In Sindh, southern districts are likely to experience heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds, affecting Thatta, Badin, Tharparkar, Mithi, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Adam, Hyderabad, Karachi, and surrounding areas.
Light, intermittent showers are forecast for upper and central Sindh, including Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad, Khairpur, Dadu, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Jamshoro, and nearby localities. In Balochistan, several districts are expected to receive intermittent showers with thunderstorms, particularly in Zhob,
Loralai, Sibi, Dera Bugti, Sui, Khuzdar, Awaran, Barkhan, and Lasbela. The alert also notes the possibility of gusty winds and storms, which may lead to landslides, overflowing streams, and falling trees, potentially causing power outages.
Faisalabad city on Monday afternoon received 175 millimeters (mm) rain which inundated low-lying areas and created problems for residents. A spokesman for the WASA said the Sanitation Agency was ensuring round the clock drainage operation mitigate sufferings of people. He said that Allama Iqbal Colony received 131 millimeters rainfall on Sunday night followed by Jail Road with 128 mm, Ghulam Muhammad Abad 123 mm, Ghulistan Colony 121 mm, Dogar Basti 110 mm and Madina Town along with adjoining areas 109 mm.
However, by Monday morning up to 2 p.m, the intensity of downpour further increased and Ghulam Muhammad Abad recorded highest amount of 175 mm while Ghulistan Colony and Allama Iqbal Colony received with 166 mm showers each.
