ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Thursday warned of a major flood at the Trimmu Barrage on the Chenab River in Jhang district of the Punjab province on August 31, as water levels continue to rise following heavy monsoon rains and the release of water from dams in India.
The Chenab River is expected to carry 700,000 to 800,000 cusecs of water by August 31, posing a significant risk of flooding to Jhang and surrounding areas, NDMA stated.
دریائے چناب سیلابی صورتحال:
سیلابی ریلوں کی آمد کے باعث دریائے چناب کے بہاؤ میں اضافہ، 31 اگست کو دوپہر 4 بجے کے قریب تریمو بیراج پر پانی کا بہاؤ 7لاکھ سے 8لاکھ کیوسک تک متوقع، شدید سیلابی صورتحال کا خدشہ۔ممکنہ شدید سیلابی صورتحال جھنگ اور اس کے ملحقہ علاقوں کو متاثر کرے گی۔ pic.twitter.com/H3i0ARIMBF
— NDMA PAKISTAN (@ndmapk) August 28, 2025
Meanwhile, Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has reported that the flood situation across the province has worsened, with the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers flowing at dangerously high levels.
More rain forecast
PDMA on Thursday forecast the start of the 9th spell of monsoon rain across the province from tomorrow (Friday), and issued a flood alert for rivers and streams due to expected heavy rainfall.
According to the PDMA, severe thunderstorms and heavy rains will lash most districts of Punjab. The 9th monsoon spell will continue until September 2, bringing intense rainfall to various regions.
Rain is expected in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Lahore, Gujrat, and Sialkot, while Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, and Rajanpur may also receive rain.
Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabil Javed has instructed all commissioners and deputy commissioners across the province to remain on high alert.
Meanwhile, the main rivers and their tributaries were remained in high flood on Thursday due to the rains. The Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers were flowing at very high flood levels.
The Relief Commissioner warned that streams and nullahs in major cities may overflow due to monsoon rains. All deputy commissioners and other officials have been directed to stay present in the field.
Alerts have also been issued to the departments of health, irrigation, communication and works, local government, and livestock.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has forecast hot and dry weather in most parts of the country, although Islamabad and surrounding areas may experience rain in a few places.
The weather will remain dry in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while in Sindh, hot and humid conditions will likely persist.
Most districts of Balochistan may witness cloudy skies, while Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are likely to experience rain with strong winds and thunderstorms.
Flood situation
The flow of water in the Ravi River continued to rise steadily on Thursday, and the next 12 hours had been declared critical.
The high-level flood in the River Ravi prompted a large-scale evacuation of people from the flood-affected areas. So far, 500 families have been shifted to safer places.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), 180,000 cusecs of water is passing through Shahdara, which is expected to increase to about 200,000 cusecs.
The Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej rivers overflowed their banks in various areas of Punjab, inundating villages, destroying standing crops, and breaking several small dams.
So far, 11 people have been reported dead due to roof collapses and drowning in floodwaters.
Due to water released by India and heavy rainfall, the flood situation in Punjab’s rivers and streams has worsened.
The PDMA warned that water pressure is increasing at Qadirabad headworks on the Chenab River, where the flow has reached 996,000 cusecs.
According to PDMA Punjab Director General Irfan Ali Kathia, the capacity of the Qadirabad headworks is 800,000 cusecs, meaning it is currently handling nearly 200,000 cusecs more than its capacity.
The DG PDMA further stated that there is a risk of a breach on the left bank due to rising water pressure. In case of breach, the areas of Hafizabad and Chiniot will be inundated.
The PDMA further stated that instructions have been issued to deputy commissioners to evacuate residents.
Efforts were being made to reinforce and strengthen the embankment, the PDMA added.
In Kasur, many villages have been submerged in floodwaters, forcing authorities to evacuate residents to safer areas.
At Balloki headworks, the River Ravi has reached a high level, while in Shakargarh, several villages have been submerged due to the breach of a protective embankment at Bhiku Chak.
The sources further said that sirens have been sounded to warn area residents, adding that more than 500 families have been relocated to safer areas.
Meanwhile, the water level in the Sutlej River has also started rising at Lodhran.
The flood situation near Chiniot has worsened to a dangerous level, prompting authorities to launch efforts to protect the historic bridge in the city.
The administration has completed preparations for a potential embankment breach.
More than 10 lakh cusecs of water was passing through Khanki headworks, while floodwater has also entered the residential areas of Wazirabad.
In addition, standing crops in Mandi Bahauddin and Gujranwala have been submerged in floodwater.
Rescue efforts
The water inflow into the River Sutlej is continuously increasing, and a moderate-level flood has been recorded at Sulemanki headworks.
In Bahawalnagar, villages and settlements located near the river belt have been inundated, and thousands of people have been affected by the floodwaters.
The strong current also damaged several protective embankments and connecting roads.
According to rescue sources, more than 2,000 people trapped in the floodwaters have been moved to safer locations, while the district administration has established 18 flood relief camps.
According to the Deputy Commissioner of Sargodha, around 2,500 people and over 1,700 livestock have been evacuated to safe locations.
