The release of additional water by India into Pakistan’s rivers has triggered widespread flooding across South Punjab, submerging dozens of villages and breaching protective embankments. The Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers are all in high flood, posing severe risks to surrounding communities.
According to an official alert, the Indian High Commission informed Pakistan that water had been released into the Sutlej at Harike and Ferozepur. In response, the Ministry of Water Resources and Punjab’s PDMA issued flood warnings, cautioning of dangerously high flows.
At Ganda Singh Wala on the Sutlej, the water flow surged to 327,000 cusecs, inundating surrounding areas. High flood levels were also reported at Suleimanki and Islam headworks, leaving four tehsils in Bahawalpur submerged.
The Ravi River is also swelling dangerously. At Sidhnai, the river is in very high flood, while inflows at Balloki have crossed 138,760 cusecs. On the Chenab, water levels continue to rise at Khanki, Qadirabad, and Chiniot, cutting off access to several rural settlements.
In Multan, Shujaabad Canal near Qasim Bela is carrying three times its designed capacity, causing it to overflow into surrounding neighborhoods. The Shershah embankment also overtopped, submerging several villages where residents had no time to evacuate. At the Sikandari drain and the Akbar flood embankment, continuous pressure has already forced water into Akbarpur, Basti Kotwal, and nearby areas.
Rescue teams and local administration are carrying out relief efforts, but the intensity of the floods is making access to several areas nearly impossible.
Heavy rainfall in upstream regions has worsened the crisis across Punjab’s river system. On the Chenab, water flow was recorded at 115,000 cusecs at Marala, 205,000 at Khanki, 266,000 at Qadirabad, and 331,000 at Trimmu. On the Ravi, 73,000 cusecs were recorded at Jassar, 112,000 at Shahdara, 114,000 at Siphon, 144,000 at Balloki, and 122,000 at Sidhnai.
Meanwhile, the Sutlej recorded 319,000 cusecs at Ganda Singh Wala, 142,000 at Suleimanki, and 310,000 at Panjnad headworks.
Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary travel near riverbanks, and refrain from fishing or recreational activities in flooded areas. Precautionary evacuations have also been advised for low-lying settlements.
