LAHORE: Relentless rains on Saturday deepened the misery of flood-stricken communities across Punjab, claiming five lives in Lahore due to collapsing roofs. Rising waters in the Ravi River also swept through villages and farmlands, triggering widespread devastation.
Heavy rains in Punjab, including Lahore, have caused rivers to overflow, worsening the flood situation. PDMA Punjab warns that the collapse of India’s Madhupur Headworks may bring an additional 70,000 cusecs of water, threatening areas like Kasur and Multan. While Lahore remains safe, over 2,300 sites are under water, 300,000 more people have been displaced and crops over thousands of acres destroyed. Controlled dam breaches were made to protect Jhang. Infectious diseases are spreading among flood victims.
In Sindh, floods are expected between Tuesday and Wednesday night, potentially affecting 1.65 million people. The Sindh government has issued a super flood warning for Guddu Barrage, expecting water flows of 700,000 to 800,000 cusecs between Wednesday night and Thursday. Over 52,000 families are likely to be affected initially.
In Lahore, three people — 60-year-old Ramzan Sufi, 18-year-old Dua Fatima, and seven-year-old Kiran — died, and four were injured when a dilapidated roof collapsed on Bedian Road in Ismailpura. Rescue teams shifted the injured to General Hospital and handed over the bodies to police. In Old Anarkali, 30-year-old Faizan Ali died in another roof collapse, while in Burki, 60-year-old Abdul Razzaq lost his life and a 20-year-old man was injured. In Rukkan village near Malakwal, Gul Khan, his wife, and their nine-month-old baby were trapped under rubble after rain caused their roof to collapse. Neighbours rescued them and shifted them to Civil Hospital Rukkan, where the infant later died.
At Head Balloki on the Ravi River, water inflows and outflows crossed 222,000 cusecs, submerging multiple villages and destroying rice and sesame crops. Livestock—buffaloes, cows, and goats—were swept away, causing major losses to farmers. Thousands of residents fled their homes without access to food, shelter or medicine. With limited official relief, volunteer groups stepped in to support victims.
In Phoolnagar, 36 hours of continuous rain triggered severe urban flooding. Streets, homes, and shops in areas like Sabri Mohallah, Eidgah, Bilalpura, Tallywali Masjid, and the main bazaar were inundated. Residents lost valuables within hours, while traders reported damages worth millions. Locals criticised municipal authorities for “criminal negligence” and failure to ensure proper drainage or emergency response.
Heavy rains and river overflows also hit Nankana Sahib, submerging dozens of villages including Bashoki Par, Heeray, Jatay Da Wara, and Khizar Abad. Hundreds of acres of standing crops were ruined. The district administration established 26 relief camps to provide shelter, food and clean drinking water. Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Tasleem Rao, DPO Farad Ahmad and army personnel visited the flood-hit areas near Head Balloki. Nankana city also faced a 16-hour power outage due to flooding.
In Kasur, Provincial Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, who heads the Cabinet Committee on Disaster Management, conducted an emergency visit. Officials briefed him that 72 villages had been affected, with 74 boats and 300 personnel from the army and police deployed for rescue efforts.
Over 18,300 people and 36,000 livestock have been relocated to safer locations including Talwar Post, Uttar Singhwala, and Kothi Fateh Muhammad. Rescue 1122, in coordination with the district administration and the army, continues to lead evacuation and relief operations. Large-scale relief camps have been set up in Kasur, Chunian and Pattoki to provide essentials like food, water, shelter and fodder.
Officials report that the Sutlej River is experiencing its worst flooding since 1988. At Ganda Singh Wala, water discharge reached 380,000 cusecs—well beyond safe levels—causing massive destruction. Crops worth millions have been destroyed, and breaches in protective bunds, including one in Kanganpur, submerged thousands of acres of farmland. Controlled cuts were made in selected areas to reduce pressure and shield Kasur city from further damage.
The Meteorological Department and the PDMA have warned of more rain and hailstorms over the next 24 to 48 hours, which may worsen the situation downstream. Low-lying areas such as Dehatabad, Rukanpura, Quli Shahu, Kot Shera, and Sundar Singh remain at high risk, and residents have been urged to evacuate immediately. In Pakpattan, Provincial Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Ashiq Hussain Kirmani visited flood relief camps at Pir Ghani and Dhakkar Farm to meet displaced families.
In Jhang, a major flood wave from the Chenab River entered district boundaries and is advancing toward Trimmu Barrage. Over 300,000 people and their livestock have been evacuated from more than 180 villages. Twenty official relief camps have been established, with Deputy Commissioner Ali Akbar and DPO Bilal Iftikhar overseeing relief efforts. All protective embankments are currently intact and under constant monitoring. As a safety measure, 64 schools in flood-prone areas have been closed. Several have been converted into relief camps, with non-teaching staff deployed to assist. In Chiniot, Deputy Commissioner Safiullah Gondal ordered a two-day closure of all government and private schools due to the ongoing emergency.
In Toba Tek Singh, high floodwaters from the Ravi River have inundated 52 villages in Kamalia and Pir Mahal. So far, 66,639 affected people have been moved to safer locations. Rescue teams have treated 685 individuals and transported 752 evacuees. The Livestock Department has relocated 53,710 animals and administered vaccinations to 3,471. Currently, 220 people are housed in relief camps, receiving food, medical care and fodder for their livestock. In Gujranwala Division, Provincial Minister for Flood Relief Mian Zeeshan Rafique visited Sialkot, Daska, and Pasrur, accompanied by officials. CEO Health Dr Muhammad Arslan Chaudhry reported 14 snake-bite cases—12 in Pasrur and two in Daska—all successfully treated. Twenty-nine fixed and five mobile medical camps are operating in the region.
In Gujrat’s flood-hit Shahbazpur, the Chenab River has left widespread devastation. In Vehari district, a flood emergency was declared after rising water levels in the Sutlej River affected nearly 50,000 people. Burewala tehsil remains on high alert. So far, 12,159 residents from 57 settlements have been evacuated, including 1,792 rescued by boat. Over 3,281 livestock have also been saved. Relief efforts include 13 relief camps and 11 medical camps, with 12,500 people relocated to safer zones. Thousands remain stranded, particularly near PI Link Road and Darbar Nadir Wali, where families are taking shelter in the open amid monsoon rains.
Officials estimate that 21,718 acres of farmland have been flooded, while crops over 30,380 acres—including cotton, sugarcane, rice, and fodder—have been destroyed. In Union Council No. 25 Dad Kamira, 17 villages with a population of over 23,000 remain completely submerged. Several areas, including Mian Hakim, Lakha, Khichi, Kot Ghullo, and Gul Shah, remain inaccessible due to damaged roads.
More than one million people have been displaced and over 2,300 villages submerged across Punjab, with 1.5 million affected and 30 flood-related deaths reported. Relief Commissioner Nabil Javed said 481,000 people and 405,000 livestock have been evacuated. PDMA has termed it the largest rescue operation in Punjab’s history, involving 800 boats, 1,300 personnel, and hundreds of relief, medical, and veterinary camps.
Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed floods from the Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej have submerged over 2,000 villages. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif is overseeing relief efforts. DG PDMA Irfan Ali Kathia warned of an additional 70,000 cusecs from India, urging timely data sharing. Following a dam breach in India, water flow surged at Ganda Singh Wala. Discharge levels reached 303,000 cusecs in Kasur and could hit 900,000 cusecs at Panjnad by 4 September. Kathia criticised India’s delayed flood data and vowed to remove encroachments under the Flood Plan Act to prevent future disasters.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, torrential rains triggered flash floods in Peshawar, leading to the death of a minor girl and evacuation of over 300 residents. Rescue 1122 responded with 280 personnel, rubber boats, water rescue vans and disaster response vehicles. Vulnerable populations were relocated to relief camps, with mosque loudspeakers used to alert communities. Authorities reported that water levels at Budhni Nullah were gradually receding.
In Nahqi village along Charsadda Road, a roof collapse—caused by heavy rain—claimed the life of a young girl and injured three others. Senior provincial officials, including Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, DG Rescue 1122 Tayyab Abdullah, DG PDMA Asfandyar Khattak, and Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Sanaullah Khan, visited the affected areas and confirmed that rescue operations were being carried out. Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur directed the PDMA, Rescue 1122, and district administrations to remain on the ground until all relief operations are completed. Dewatering machinery was deployed to flood-hit localities, including Shahin Colony, Safia Town, Regi Bala, Budhni Bridge, and surrounding areas. Residents living near Budhni Nullah and Darmangi were safely relocated as a precautionary measure.
