Floods Devastate Punjab, Dozens Dead and Thousands Displaced
SIALKOT – Flooding continues to wreak havoc across Punjab, claiming dozens of lives and displacing thousands as rivers swell to dangerous levels.
In Sialkot district, tragedy struck when five members of the same family lost their lives in Sambarial. Across the Gujranwala division, at least 15 people have died, while four deaths were reported in Gujrat, three in Narowal, and two in Hafizabad.
The disaster has submerged hundreds of villages in Kasur, Narowal, and Pindi Bhattian, leaving thousands homeless. Raging waters have also swept away cattle and destroyed standing crops, with Bahawalnagar reporting widespread damage as houses collapsed under floodwater.
According to the Flood Forecasting Division, the River Ravi has swelled to a critical point, flowing at 145,000 cusecs at Shahdara and 152,000 cusecs at Jassar. Lahore’s Commissioner assured that the peak has passed and the city remains safe, though authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.
The River Chenab is facing an extremely high flood, with water flows of 859,000 cusecs at Khanki and nearly one million cusecs at Qadirabad. At Head Marala, the flow has reached 191,000 cusecs, prompting authorities to urge residents of nearby areas to remain on alert.
The River Sutlej is also overflowing at several points. At Ganda Singh Wala, the flow has surged to 261,000 cusecs, while at Head Sulemanki it stands at 109,000 cusecs. In Chishtian, six protective embankments have collapsed under pressure, flooding over 300 villages and damaging crops on more than 7,000 acres.
Local farmers have built an eight-kilometre embankment in a desperate attempt to shield their homes, but officials warn that if it fails, as many as 20,000 houses could be swept away.
The situation is particularly grim in Bahawalnagar, where over 105 villages have been inundated, affecting nearly 150,000 people. About 90,000 residents have already been forced to evacuate as temporary dykes gave way, washing away homes and farmland.
Authorities say rescue operations are underway, but warn that the crisis is far from over as floodwaters continue to rise in several districts.
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