ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE/SUKKUR: The Sutlej River recorded an exceptionally high flood flow of 385,000 cusecs on Monday, prompting the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab to issue a high alert in nine districts after India abruptly released more water into rivers flowing into Pakistan.
The PDMA warned that Kasur, Okara, Bahawalnagar, Pakpattan, Vehari, Lodhran, Bahawalpur, Multan, and Muzaffargarh were at risk of inundation.
Commissioner Lahore Maryam Khan visited Talwar Post in Kasur to review ongoing rescue, relief, and evacuation efforts. The Sutlej’s current flow stands at 240,000 cusecs, consistent over the past week.
According to official briefings, the Sutlej flood has so far affected 148 villages in Kasur. Around 70,000 people and 169,000 livestock have been relocated to safer grounds and relief camps. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall in Rawalpindi and Islamabad forced local administrations to declare a rain emergency.
The floods have already caused widespread devastation across central and southern Punjab. In Kasur’s Ganda Singhwala, 80 villages were submerged, while Head Sulaimanki saw another 16 villages and 112 settlements inundated. In Pakpattan, 26,000 acres of farmland were destroyed and over 35,000 people displaced. Vehari reported more than 100,000 residents affected, with thousands still stranded. In Okara’s Mari Pattan area, 36 villages went underwater as floodwaters spread to Dipalpur, Renala Khurd, Gogera, and Tandlianwala.
The Chenab River has also surged dangerously after India opened all gates of the Salal Dam, sending 800,000 cusecs downstream. At Head Trimmu, flows touched 479,000 cusecs, creating a “very high flood” situation. The deluge has already entered Sialkot, Wazirabad, and Chiniot, before reaching Jhang, where 200 villages and hundreds of homes were submerged.
A major flood wave is now expected to pass Multan on Monday night. To protect the city, authorities have planted dynamite along the Head Muhammadwala road, with contingency plans to breach embankments if required.
The PDMA said Rawalpindi and Islamabad also received heavy rainfall and local administrations declared rain emergency on Monday. Ninety-nine millimetre rain was recorded in PMD and 78mm in Golra. More rain is likely to fall in twin cities late at night, Meteorological Department warned.
Water level in Nullah Leh at Katarian is 16 feet and 11 feet at Gawalmandi, MD WASA said. Meanwhile, the South Punjab Secretariat (SPS) and divisional administration in Multan are on high alert as Chenab floodwaters flow towards Dera Ghazi Khan. Acting on the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, large-scale rescue and relief operations are underway.
According to the latest SPS report, 698,823 people have been evacuated, while 588,050 acres of land and 565,997 acres of crops remain submerged. Relief efforts include the evacuation of 825,885 people and 655,688 livestock, the setup of 437 relief camps, and 387 medical camps that have treated 22,547 patients.
In Multan division alone, Commissioner Amir Karim Khan confirmed that over 529,000 people and 444,000 cattle have been moved to safer places. The number of flood camps has risen to 88. He noted that many displaced families are staying with relatives, though all official camps provide food, water, accommodation, and fodder for cattle. Authorities are relocating people from low-lying areas, in some cases forcibly, to ensure safety.
Separately, floodwaters in the River Ravi at Head Balloki showed signs of decline on Monday, with inflows and outflows recorded at 162,290 cusecs, offering relief to nearby villages long battered by rising waters. Thousands of acres of farmland are beginning to drain, though residents say the damage to crops, livestock, and livelihoods is immense. Villagers have appealed to the Punjab government for urgent compensation, fodder, and medical support as stagnant water raises disease risks.
Officials confirmed that 17 relief camps have been established in Kasur and Sheikhupura. Commissioner Lahore Maryam Khan inspected facilities at relief camps and said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif is actively visiting flood-hit areas to ensure maximum assistance.
Meanwhile, the situation worsened in Kamalia and Pir Mahal as a flood wave of 200,000 cusecs swept through the region, submerging over 80 villages and cutting off major road links to Chichawatni, Faisalabad, and the M-3 Motorway. The Toba Tek Singh administration reported that 60,000 people have been rescued, including those stranded on rooftops, while 61,999 livestock were also evacuated. Crops over 20,746 acres have been inundated.
Rescue operations involving the Pakistan Army, Punjab Police, Civil Defence, and Rescue 1122 continue, with over 76,000 of 80,000 affected residents shifted to safety. Authorities stress that protecting lives and ensuring medical, food, and shelter facilities remain the top priorities.
Separately, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah assured that the province is fully prepared to manage a potential “super flood” at Guddu Barrage, with arrangements finalised to safely handle flows of up to 900,000 cusecs.
Speaking to media, Shah revealed that the NDMA had forecast inflows ranging from 800,000 to 1.1 million cusecs, with worst-case scenarios of 1.2–1.3 million cusecs reaching Guddu by Sept 5–6. He said the Sindh government had a comprehensive strategy in place, including strengthened embankments, fortified sensitive points, and round-the-clock monitoring by watch camps along the Indus.
The CM highlighted that during the 2010 super flood, Guddu saw 1.148 million cusecs, and lessons from that disaster led to embankments being raised by six feet. Recently, 550,000 cusecs passed safely through Guddu, Sukkur, and Kotri barrages.
Emergency preparations include boats for evacuation, medical support, and the deployment of Army, Navy, and civil administration. Districts have been placed on high alert, and rural populations warned of possible evacuations.
Shah added that protecting human lives and livestock is the top priority. He also stressed the need for a national climate change policy, noting that while Punjab is most severely affected in this spell, Sindh stands in solidarity with flood-hit communities across the country.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Monday vowed that she would “not rest until every affected family is supported and rehabilitated.” During her visit to flood-hit district Jhang, she inspected relief camps, a field hospital, and protective embankments. She also met displaced families, assuring them of shelter, food, healthcare, and other essential support.
At a relief camp in Jhang, a large crowd gathered to welcome the CM. During her interaction, she showed affection to a young girl, while an elderly woman held her hand and offered heartfelt prayers.
On arrival at Trimmu Headworks, CM Maryam received a detailed briefing on ongoing rescue and relief operations, including evacuation, provision of shelters, medical care, and food supplies. She stated that both the Punjab government and her personal oversight would ensure timely and effective measures. “The protection of people’s lives cannot be compromised for anyone’s business or personal interest,” she asserted.
Expressing concern, CM Maryam admitted she was shocked at the level of underdevelopment in Jhang, calling it more backward and neglected than she had expected. She endorsed the briefing of Deputy Commissioner Ali Akbar, directing the administration to intensify relief and rehabilitation efforts across the district, especially for the poorest communities. The CM also visited embankments and camps in Tehsil 18-Hazari, urging authorities to scale up assistance for victims.
Meanwhile, her visit sparked criticism after the main briefing was arranged in Tehsil 18-Hazari — the least affected part of Jhang — rather than in Tehsil Jhang and Tehsil Ahmadpur Sial, where major embankment operations were carried out to protect irrigation infrastructure and urban areas.
Local sources said the current flood crisis originated in the River Chenab, which enters Jhang from the Chiniot side. The first impact point was Rivaz Bridge, from where floodwaters submerged hundreds of villages along Sargodha Road and Chiniot Road. They added that more than 300 villages remain underwater. To safeguard Rivaz Bridge and Trimmu Barrage, controlled breaches were made at Thatta Mahla (Tehsil Jhang) and near Bahu Bridge (Tehsil Ahmadpur Sial), while the 18-Hazari embankment remained intact due to lower pressure from the River Jhelum.
Critics alleged that government institutions extended undue protocol and resources to certain individuals during the CM’s visit. However, the district administration rejected these claims, insisting that more than 20 relief camps are operating round-the-clock in Tehsil Jhang, Shorkot, Ahmadpur Sial, as well as 18-Hazari. Officials further maintained that all embankments are being strictly monitored and that relief operations are being carried out without political pressure or favouritism.
On the directives of CM Maryam, successful rescue operations are underway to locate and evacuate flood victims stranded in remote areas. In Jhang, including Semi-Pul Bypass on Sargodha Road, five people and their livestock trapped in floodwaters were traced and safely rescued after teams used location-tracking technology.
To enhance operations, thermal imaging drone cameras have been deployed across river belt areas of Chishtian and Bahawalnagar, enabling quick identification of stranded people and livestock. Officials noted that surveillance of rescue boats is also being carried out to ensure safe and efficient evacuations.
In a notable humanitarian effort, CM Maryam’s team rescued 200 buffaloes trapped in the Chenab River near Muzaffargarh. During her visit to Juna Bangla Relief Camp, reports emerged of the animals stranded nearly a kilometre from the riverbank. With the help of drone surveillance, police and rescue teams launched a boat operation and shifted the cattle to safe ground. Grateful owners praised the effort as a remarkable example of compassion.
Meanwhile, the CM approved the highest civil award and a Rs10 million grant for the heirs of Assistant Commissioner Pattoki Furqan Ahmed Khan, who died of cardiac arrest while on continuous flood relief duty despite battling cancer. CM Maryam hailed him as a “true hero” who sacrificed his life in service to the people, declaring that his dedication and sense of duty would be remembered forever.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said the province is confronting a “super flood,” far beyond the scale of the devastating floods of 1988.
“In just a few hours, India released massive torrents into our rivers, and Punjab is now facing a deluge of destruction,” she stated. The minister added that the government did not wish to politicise the crisis or respond to negative propaganda, stressing instead the urgency of focusing on relief and rescue efforts.
