Key points
- Over 1.65 million at flood risk
- Controlled dyke breaches to protect infrastructure
- Glacier melt threatens northern mountain regions
ISLAMABAD: Severe flooding across Punjab, caused by rising waters in the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers, has led to large-scale evacuations. The situation has worsened due to ongoing rainfall and a breach in an Indian barrage, prompting Sindh authorities to revise their flood risk estimates.
Over 1.65 million people are now considered vulnerable along both banks of the Indus River.
🔴 Emergency Alert for Sindh
Floodwaters from KP & Punjab are moving downstream. Sindh faces a grave danger of massive flooding.
⚠️ People in low-lying areas must evacuate immediately to safer ground.
🚨 Share this message — it can save lives. pic.twitter.com/aMLXtrx7RL— Akbar (@SyedAHussain15) August 30, 2025
In the north, glacier melt poses additional flood threats in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Ghizer district, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warning of possible glacial and flash floods. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, areas such as Peshawar experienced urban flooding following intense rain.
Unprecedented hydrological crisis
Punjab faces what officials describe as an “unprecedented hydrological crisis,” as the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) and the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) report critical water levels in major rivers.
Thousands in low-lying areas are being relocated amid fears that further water surges could devastate urban and rural settlements.
Sindh CM @MuradAliShahPPP chaired flood emergency meeting. With 700,000–800,000 cusecs of water expected at Guddu Barrage & rains forecast, he ordered full alert, deployment of 30k+ Rescue 1122 staff, 200+ boats & 500 relief camps to protect lives & livestock. pic.twitter.com/gDZ9MbRVTn
— Sindh Chief Minister House (@SindhCMHouse) August 29, 2025
Rising water flows from the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej are threatening downstream regions, including Multan and Muzaffargarh, with the rivers now halfway through Punjab. At 6:30 pm, water at the Rivaz Bridge on the Chenab River reached 524.20 feet, just shy of its critical threshold of 526 feet.
As of midnight Sunday, the FFD reported water flow at Marala (95,152 cusecs) and Khanki (229,100 cusecs) on the Chenab. Qadirabad and Trimmu recorded steady flows of 203,862 and 184,108 cusecs, respectively. On the Ravi, Balloki was at a dangerously high 211,395 cusecs, while Shahdara had dropped to 90,500 cusecs. Jassar and Sidhnai reported flows of 95,580 and 30,481 cusecs.
Managing flood crisis
The Sutlej remained swollen with Ganda Singh Wala steady at 253,068 cusecs, Sulemanki at 154,219 cusecs, and Islam Headworks at 68,058 cusecs. The Panjnad Headworks showed a rising trend at 73,166 cusecs.
On the Indus River, low flood levels were recorded at Guddu (344,723 cusecs), Sukkur (256,660 cusecs), and Kotri (236,223 cusecs).
🌊 BREAKING: Punjab on High Alert as Chenab & Ravi Rivers Swell – DG PDMA Issues Critical Warnings 🌊
The flood situation in Punjab is escalating rapidly, with the Chenab and Ravi rivers posing a serious threat to multiple regions. Director General PDMA has issued urgent alerts… pic.twitter.com/AqtNLG5jEV
— Dr Zaib Khan (@drzaibkhan786) August 30, 2025
To manage the flood crisis, authorities conducted controlled breaches of dykes along the Chenab, intentionally flooding farmland to protect major infrastructure and cities like Jhang, Hafizabad, Sheikhupura, Nankana, and Kasur.
Trimmu Barrage was expected to receive up to 850,000 cusecs, necessitating such breaches. Ammunition was also placed at dykes near Rangpur and Head Muhammad Wala to defend Multan and Muzaffargarh if water levels rose further.
Glacier melt
In Sindh, revised figures now show that over 273,000 families in 1,651 villages and 167 union councils are at risk. “The government is fully prepared to respond,” said Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon.
In Peshawar, 41mm of rain led to flooding in low-lying neighbourhoods, including Warsak Road and Regi Model Town. Rescue 1122 reported a girl had died in a roof collapse, and one person was injured in a wall collapse.
Meanwhile, the Emergency Operation Centre issued a glacier melt alert for Ghizer, where the temperature in Darkut reached 35°C. The PMD warned this could lead to flooding in valleys and low-lying settlements.
