LAHORE/MULTAN/SUKKUR: Despite extensive rescue and relief operations across Punjab, the plight of flood victims continues to worsen with each passing day. On Wednesday, heavy rains lashed several parts of Sindh, claiming four lives and devastating standing crops, including cotton and tomatoes.
Meanwhile, the merging of floodwaters from the Ravi, Sutlej, Beas, Chenab, and Jhelum rivers at Panjnad has heightened the threat of further destruction in southern Punjab, endangering property, crops, livestock and human lives.
Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday paid her second visit to Multan in just ten days, reviewing flood devastation through an aerial survey and visiting flood-hit areas of Tehsil Jalalpur Pirwala. She assured victims that their losses would be compensated and their livelihoods restored.
The CM announced Rs1 million each for families of the deceased, Rs1 million for a completely destroyed house, Rs500,000 for partially damaged homes, Rs500,000 for loss of large livestock, and Rs50,000 for small animals. She also promised the construction of a permanent protective embankment in Jalalpur Pirwala and announced the Gilani Expressway project for Uch Sharif.
Maryam directed Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb to stay in Jalalpur Pirwala for round-the-clock monitoring of rescue and relief efforts. The chief minister pledged that every flood-affected family would be rehabilitated, adding, “I cannot put a price on human life, but I will do whatever is possible for the heirs of the deceased.”
An accidental breach in the protective dyke of River Chenab near Jalalpur inundated thousands of acres of agricultural land, orchards, houses, and commercial properties, forcing residents to flee through the streets. Witnesses said floodwaters rapidly swept into Jalalpur Pirwala’s Phiranay area, submerging over 2,000 acres of farmland and hundreds of homes in Mouzas Inayatpur, Umarpur, and surrounding villages, raising fears that water may soon enter Jalalpur city itself.
On the directives of Additional Chief Secretary South Punjab Fuad Hashim Rabbani, senior officials launched rescue and relief operations. Additional Secretary Abdul Saboor Thakur, accompanied by Assistant Commissioner Syeda Humaira Shah, inspected relief efforts in Mouza Tahirpur, including a camp styled as a “well-organised tent village,” where 1,700 out of 3,900 displaced persons are being housed. The camp is providing three meals daily, round-the-clock medical services, and fodder for 1,300 livestock.
Fuad Rabbani donated 175 life jackets for rescue operations, while officials reaffirmed that the administration would remain on the ground until full rehabilitation. Meanwhile, PDMA Punjab directed district administrations in Muzaffargarh, Lodhran, Rajanpur, Liaquatpur, and Rahim Yar Khan to complete evacuation from floodplains immediately. PDMA DG Irfan Kathia stressed that citizens’ safety was the top priority, instructing authorities to use police if needed to move residents to safe areas and ensure food, water, and healthcare facilities in relief camps.
Meanwhile, unrelenting floodwaters from the River Sutlej continued to submerge villages in Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar on Wednesday, raising fears for the safety of nearby urban areas. The water level at Empress Bridge reached 13 feet, while the slow-moving flood peak devastated crops and homes, transforming vast stretches of land into a river-like expanse.
According to Deputy Commissioner Bahawalpur Dr Fahan Farooq, 89 rural settlements have been inundated, displacing more than 150,000 people and destroying over 100,000 acres of cotton corn, and vegetables. Thirty-one relief camps have been established, but thousands remain stranded as evacuation is hindered by a shortage of boats.
Flood victims in relief camps reported dire conditions, citing food shortages, lack of sanitation, and starvation of their cattle due to insufficient fodder. Union Council Mangwani, with a population of over 20,000, has been cut off by floodwaters, while Khairpur Tamiwali, Bahawalpur Sadar, and Ahmadpur East are also among the worst-affected areas.
Meanwhile, a relief boat carrying 19 people capsized in floodwaters in Jalalpur Pirwala. Eighteen people were rescued while search was under way for the 19th person.
Separately, the death toll from a boat accident in Norwala village, Rahim Yar Khan, has climbed to nine after rescuers recovered three more bodies from floodwaters on Wednesday.
Two days earlier, a boat carrying more than 25 members of the same family capsized after striking a tree while heading to a safer location. Fourteen people were rescued alive soon after the incident. The bodies of three children were found on Tuesday, while on Wednesday, rescuers retrieved 22-year-old Zakia Bibi, 25-year-old Rafia Bibi, and 45-year-old Muhammad Hassan.
The bodies were handed over to their families for burial. Rescue teams said search operations are still underway as more passengers remain missing.
Also, the flood situation in Sutlej River worsened on Wednesday, with high flood levels persisting across Vehari district. According to the Flood Forecasting Division, river flows were recorded at 140,000 cusecs at Jamlera (Burewala), 121,357 cusecs at Head Islam, and 120,150 cusecs at Mailsi Siphon.
Torrents have submerged 94 villages — 36 in Vehari, 26 in Burewala, and 32 in Mailsi — impacting 78,651 people. Authorities confirmed that 75,035 people have been moved to safer areas, with 7,200 rescued by emergency teams. Crops on more than 65,000 acres, including cotton, rice, and sugarcane, have been destroyed.
Relief operations are ongoing at 21 camps sheltering 1,032 people. Around 7,000 displaced persons are receiving cooked meals and clean water daily, while 1,500 ration bags have been distributed. Medical teams have treated over 11,000 patients, while livestock vaccination has covered 70,735 animals. Drones are also being used for surveillance and rescue, with tents, bedding, fodder, and hygiene kits supplied to affected families.
Meanwhile, the flood situation in the River Chenab eased on Wednesday as water levels at Trimmu Barrage dropped from 416,477 cusecs to 244,308 cusecs, shifting the river to a low-level flood stage.
With receding waters, the Jhang district administration launched extensive relief efforts. Helicopters were deployed to deliver ration bags and essential supplies to hard-to-reach marooned villages, including Jharki, Nakka Balochan, Patowana, Chak Jandran, Bela Bangash, Dheedowana, Tali Gadanwali, Chak Noon, and Janpur. Deputy Commissioner Ali Akbar Bhinder supervised the distribution process at Mai Heer Stadium, stating that on the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, affected families—both in marooned villages and relief camps—are being provided three meals daily. Camps have been established in Jhang, Shorkot, Ahmedpur Sial, and Athara Hazari.
Also, Gujrat police have registered a case against unidentified suspects for deliberately blocking the drainage system along GT Road during the recent spell of urban flooding.
During an emergency cleanup near Sufi Hotel in Union Council No11, municipal workers discovered bags filled with sand, garbage, and other waste deliberately stuffed into drains. Authorities said the act choked sewerage flow, worsening waterlogging in nearby neighbourhoods at the height of torrential rains.
Meanwhile, life in Gujrat is gradually returning to normal with business centres reopening and schools resuming classes. Water levels in most areas have receded, though stagnant water remains in low-lying neighbourhoods including Court Road, Kutchehri Chowk, Jinnah Road, Rehman Shaheed Road, Alipur Road and Baradari.
Teams from the district administration and WASA continue clearing drains and pumping out floodwater, with officials hopeful that all affected areas will be cleared within two days if weather conditions remain stable. Residents welcomed the relief efforts but urged authorities to implement long-term drainage solutions to avoid future crises.
Meanwhile, continuous heavy rains across Sindh have claimed four lives, damaged cotton, tomato, sugarcane, and chilli crops, and paralysed life in several districts including Sukkur, Khairpur, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Mehar, Sehwan, Dadu, Umerkot, and Thatta. The Sukkur administration reported over 280mm of rainfall in multiple cities, triggering severe urban flooding and prolonged power outages.
In Old Sukkur, Shalimar Phatak, Ghanta Ghar, Mehran Markaz, and low-lying neighbourhoods were submerged, while stagnant water choked roads in Shahdadkot, Sehwan, Mehar, and Dadu. Power supply from dozens of feeders was suspended for hours, crippling businesses and daily life. Hospitals, schools, and government offices also suffered severe damage as roofs collapsed and walls leaked.
Tragic incidents were reported: a two-month-old girl died when the roof of a house collapsed in Jalal Noonari village; a 62-year-old labourer was electrocuted near Kandara; and in Thatta, a woman was critically injured in a roof collapse. Livestock losses were also recorded, with lightning killing cattle in Jhampir.
Hundreds of houses across Dadu, Golarchi, Umerkot, Kohistan, and Mirpur Sakro were inundated or collapsed, forcing villagers to flee under the open sky. Road connectivity with dozens of villages remains cut off, worsening the plight of rain-hit communities.
Authorities have been criticised for their slow response, with residents accusing the administration of abandoning flood-stricken areas.
Also, intermittent monsoon showers continued across Karachi on Wednesday, with Surjani Town recording the heaviest rainfall at 129.6mm, according to the Met. Office. Other areas also received significant rainfall, including North Karachi (72.2mm), Korangi (70.5mm), Defence Phase VII (70mm), Gulshan Hadeed (69mm), and PAF Faisal Base (55mm).
Heavy rains in the Kirthar mountain range also swelled Mol Khadeji and Jaranda streams, feeding into the Malir stream and raising water levels. The Lyari stream is also flowing high, while floodwaters have entered homes in low-lying parts of Malir, forcing residents to evacuate.
