ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Punjab province is grappling with the worst flooding in its history, with 41 lost lives, while more than 2.4 million people are affected and thousands of villages are submerged, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
Director General PDMA, Irfan Ali Kathia, on Monday said that heavy monsoon rains and rising river levels have flooded at least 3,100 villages and nearly 2,900 hamlets across Punjab.
He stated that rescue operations underway are the largest in the province’s history, with over 900,000 people evacuated to safer areas.
The flooding has also forced the relocation of more than 600,000 livestock, with the provincial livestock department providing feed and shelter for the animals.
To support displaced families, 390 relief camps have been established across affected regions.
Kathia noted that no new flood surge has entered Pakistan from India via Head Marala, although continuous heavy rainfall is contributing to rising water levels in various tributaries.
At Head Trimmu, authorities briefed the chief minister on the situation, confirming that controlled breaches had been carried out — including near Rewas Bridge — to relieve pressure on flood-hit districts such as Jhang.
Looking ahead, it is anticipated that water from the Chenab River will reach Multan by Tuesday, where it will merge with inflows from the Ravi.
At Sadhnai, a major flood surge may require an emergency breach near Safora overnight, potentially impacting 14 villages and approximately 17,000 acres of land.
Similarly, Head Muhammadwala could witness flows of up to 650,000 cusecs, with officials warning that as many as 16 villages may be impacted if breaching becomes necessary.
According to PDMA estimates, water flow at Panjnad is now expected to peak on September 5, while Water from the Sutlej continues to move towards Suleimanki and Head Islam.
“Rescue teams are working tirelessly, and despite the widespread damage, timely measures have prevented higher casualties,” Kathia said.
India releases water
Authorities in Pakistan issued fresh flood alerts on Monday after India released a large volume of water into the Sutlej and Chenab rivers without prior notice, significantly raising the risk of high flooding across multiple districts in Punjab.
Officials stated that India bypassed the communication protocols established under the Indus Waters Treaty, informing Islamabad only after the water had been released via the Indian High Commission.
The Ministry of Water Resources confirmed high flood levels at Lower Harike and Lower Ferozepur on the Sutlej River, with a sharp surge in flows recorded on September 1.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) warned that floodwaters from the Sutlej may impact nine districts: Kasur, Okara, Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, Vehari, Lodhran, Bahawalpur, Multan, and Muzaffargarh. Deputy commissioners in these areas have been directed to implement preventive and emergency measures.
The Ravi River also rose to dangerous levels near Renala Khurd, cutting off dozens of villages. In Khanewal district, floodwaters from both the Ravi and Chenab rivers inundated thousands of acres of farmland, leading to mass evacuations.
In Burewala, a flood wave of 190,000 cusecs swept through agricultural areas, destroying crops including cotton, rice, maize, and sesame. Several protective embankments collapsed, allowing floodwaters to spread as far as Sahuja.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) projected that a peak flow of 1.3 million cusecs could reach Sindh by September 5, where authorities said they had begun preparing for a potential ‘alarmingly high flood’.
Punjab officials mentioned that more than 500 roads and 60 bridges had been damaged across the province.
Met office forecasts more rain
The Meteorological Department has predicted more heavy rains until September 3 across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Kashmir, warning of further flash floods, landslides and road closures in vulnerable areas.
The department on Monday issued a red warning for heavy rains from September 1 to 3, cautioning that torrential downpours could trigger urban flooding in low-lying neighbourhoods and flash floods in local streams across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Narowal, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Sheikhupura, Hafizabad and nearby districts.
Similar weather conditions are forecast for Jammu, Bhimber, Mirpur, Kotli, Punch, Haveli, and surrounding areas, where intense rainfall may trigger landslides and urban flooding. The vulnerable hilly regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galliyat, and Kashmir are particularly at risk of landslides and mudslides, potentially causing road closures. Authorities have advised residents, travelers, and tourists to avoid high-risk areas and stay informed through official weather alerts.
Meteorologists explained that the ongoing weather system is being driven by monsoon currents from the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, along with a westerly disturbance affecting the upper parts of the country. This system is expected to persist through Tuesday.
The forecast includes widespread rain, wind, and thunderstorms in Kashmir and northeast Punjab, with scattered showers in Islamabad and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Heavy rainfall is likely in parts of Kashmir, northeast Punjab, Islamabad, and upper KP, while the rest of the country is expected to experience hot and dry weather conditions.
Over the past 24 hours, scattered rain and thunderstorms were reported in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, northeast Punjab, Islamabad, and Gilgit-Baltistan, while other regions remained hot and humid.
