The flood situation across Punjab worsened on Sunday as rising water levels in the Sutlej and Chenab rivers inundated hundreds of villages, forcing mass evacuations and destroying standing crops on thousands of acres.
According to the Ministry of Water Resources, India has released additional water into the Sutlej River, a move Pakistan terms a violation of the Indus Water Treaty. The ministry said New Delhi had informed Islamabad through its High Commission, but emergency alerts had to be issued as very high flood levels were recorded near Harike and Ferozepur.
Authorities warned of possible devastation in downstream areas as precautionary measures were relayed to relevant departments.
Flood devastates villages in Jhang, Alipur
In Jhang district, the situation turned dire as floodwaters from the Chenab River submerged more than 300 villages. Residents of Balo Shahabal and surrounding areas complained that no rescue teams had yet reached them, even as water seeped into homes and weakened mud walls.
At Trimmu Headworks, the flow surged past 543,000 cusecs, intensifying fears of further damage.
RELATED: Urban flooding alert issued for Islamabad and northern Punjab
In Alipur, the breach of the Chandrabhan protective dam left Azmatpur and Malanwali villages under water. Cotton, sesame, and onion crops on thousands of acres were washed away, while hundreds of houses were inundated.
Displaced families, carrying belongings in the rain, were seen moving to higher ground without official assistance.
Multan braces for further inflows
Multan also reported a worsening flood emergency, with more than 138 villages affected and over 500,000 residents evacuated. Local authorities said another 350,000 cusecs of water had entered the Chenab from Head Trimmu, submerging hundreds of homes in Basti Taliwala and cutting off land routes.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited flood-hit areas to meet affected families.
The country’s total water storage has crossed 12.4 million acre feet (MAF) as inflows continue to rise in major dams and rivers, according to the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA).
Water storage crosses 12.4 MAF
WAPDA’s daily update noted that total water inflows stood at 34,400 cusecs, while outflows reached 224,400 cusecs, putting additional pressure on river systems downstream.
At Tarbela Dam, the water level has touched 1,550 feet, with a live storage of over 5.7 MAF. The inflow at Tarbela is recorded at 158,000 cusecs, while the outflow is 154,000 cusecs.
Meanwhile, the Mangla Dam is holding 6.4 MAF at a water level of 1,231 feet, with inflows at 38,000 cusecs and outflows at 9,000 cusecs.
River conditions across the country
-
The Kabul River has risen above 27 feet, creating concerns of further swelling downstream.
-
At Kala Bagh, inflows stood at 199,000 cusecs, with outflows of 192,000 cusecs.
-
Chashma Barrage recorded inflows of 235,000 cusecs and outflows of 219,000 cusecs.
-
At Tunsa Barrage, inflows reached 228,000 cusecs while outflows were 217,000 cusecs.
-
Guddu Barrage reported heavy inflows of 392,000 cusecs, with an outflow of 362,000 cusecs.
-
At Sukkur Barrage, inflows were 324,000 cusecs, while outflows dropped to 280,000 cusecs.
-
Kotri Barrage saw inflows of 244,000 cusecs and outflows of 231,000 cusecs.
PDMA issues high alert
DG Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Irfan Ali Kathia confirmed that the “first rail” of Chenab floodwater had crossed Head Muhammad Wala and was heading towards Panjnad, with inflows expected to reach 500,000 cusecs in the next few hours.
“Floods will continue to impact Multan for the next 72 hours, while Sindh may receive 700,000 to 800,000 cusecs from Chenab and Ravi combined,” he warned.
Kathia said 25 districts in Punjab were already affected, with 60,000–70,000 people accommodated in relief camps. He described the ongoing rescue operation as the “largest in Punjab’s history,” while noting that tragic incidents, including the death of a woman and four children in Jalalpur Pirwala, highlighted the crisis.
Rains add to misery
Heavy rainfall added to the disaster, with Mangla recording 72mm in the last 24 hours. While water levels have begun receding at some points, including Ravi and Ganda Singh Wala, authorities cautioned that river inflows remained unpredictable.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz visited Gujrat to oversee relief operations, where officials said floodwater was expected to clear within 22 hours.
