KEY POINTS
- Over 210,000 cusecs of water from India’s Thein Dam has entered Ravi River
- Evacuations ordered in Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot and nearby districts as PDMA warns of very high floods
- River Chenab swells to over 454,000 cusecs at Head Marala; floodwaters destroy homes and crops
- PMD forecasts landslides in AJK, urban flooding in Punjab cities, and strong storms likely to damage weak structures
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Punjab province faces a major flood threat after India released large volumes of water from the Thein Dam into the Ravi River, prompting the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to issue a high flood warning.
Over 210,000 cusecs of water are currently entering Pakistan from Kot Nainan, and water levels in rivers are rising rapidly.
The PDMA has warned that a very high flood will pass through Jassar, Shahdara, and Head Balloki within the next 48 hours.
District administrations in Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Multan, Sahiwal, and Faisalabad are on high alert.
Authorities have ordered the evacuation of areas near the Ravi River, using mosque announcements to inform residents. PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia stressed that no negligence will be tolerated.
Meanwhile, the River Chenab is also swelling. At Head Marala, the water discharge reached 454,064 cusecs, and the situation is worsening.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Tuesday has issued a fresh weather advisory warning of landslides, flash floods, and urban flooding due to expected torrential rains during the night of August 26 and throughout August 27.
Landslides in hilly areas
According to the PMD, vulnerable hilly regions of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, including Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur, may experience landslides or mudslides, potentially leading to road closures and travel disruptions.
Flash flood risk
The department also warned that heavy downpours could trigger flash floods in local nullahs and streams across these areas, posing serious threats to nearby communities.
Residents and travellers have been urged to remain alert and avoid unnecessary movement during the forecast period.
Flooding in Punjab cities
Low-lying urban areas in several Punjab districts are also at high risk. Cities including Narowal, Sialkot, Gujrat, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujranwala, and Lahore may face urban flooding due to heavy rainfall overwhelming drainage systems.
The PMD has further cautioned that strong winds, heavy rain, and lightning may cause damage to weak structures, especially kacha houses, electric poles, billboards, vehicles, and solar panels.
Authorities have advised the public to stay indoors, secure loose structures, and remain updated through official weather bulletins.
Emergency response teams have been placed on alert in vulnerable regions to respond to any eventualities.
NDMA issues high alert
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has also raised alarms due to continuous heavy rainfall and increasing water inflows from India.
Officials fear severe flash flooding in parts of Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
NDMA expert Dr. Tayyab said major rivers, Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej are expected to rise dangerously in the next two days. At Jassar, Ravi’s flow is already at 115,000 cusecs, which may reach 150,000.
At Shahdara, the river could surge to 90,000 cusecs if India continues to open dam spillways.
Floods hit villages, destroy crops
In Kasur, the Sutlej River is flowing at 188,000 cusecs, submerging over 30 villages. Rescue 1122, with help from the Army and Rangers, has already moved over 3,000 people to safer areas.
Relief camps and animal treatment centres have been set up to avoid disease outbreaks.
Floodwaters have also affected Minchinabad and Burewala, destroying thousands of acres of crops and mud homes.
In Burewala alone, 500 stranded people were rescued. Over the next day, another 90,000 cusecs is expected to enter the region.
Emergency declared
In Chiniot, the rising Chenab has triggered a medium flood warning, with eight relief camps set up. In Hafizabad, rice and sugarcane fields are underwater, and villages like Mahmudpur and Bhawan Fazil Kot have been badly hit.
Bahawalpur is also on high alert as the Sutlej River has broken through temporary barriers, flooding homes and farms.
Several southern districts, including Okara, Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, Vehari, and Narowal, have requested military support to evacuate people.
