The flood situation in Punjab turned critical after India released more water into the Sutlej River.

According to the Indian High Commission, two points along the Sutlej — Harike and Ferozepur — are facing high flood threats.

Following India’s announcement, the Ministry of Water Resources issued an emergency alert to all relevant departments.

According to rescue sources, around 4.209 million people have been affected by floods in Punjab, of which 2.19 million have been relocated to safer places.

So far, 76 people have lost their lives in various incidents related to the floods, the sources added.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab also released a report detailing the devastation caused by the floods in the province.

According to the PDMA report, 76 citizens lost their lives in various incidents during the recent floods in the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers.

Moreover, due to the severe flooding, more than 4,400 villages across Punjab have been affected.

The report stated that 1.581 million livestock have also been moved to safer areas in the affected districts.

According to Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed, 404 relief camps, 488 medical camps, and 421 veterinary camps have been set up in the districts affected by the floods.

Due to the flood situation, Mangla Dam is now 90% full, while Tarbela Dam is 100% full, the sources added.

Chenab wreaks havoc in south Punjab

A protective embankment in the Chenab River collapsed near Jalalpur Pirwala, leading to widespread destruction.

The raging water damaged hundreds of homes and destroyed thousands of acres of standing crops in the area.

Nearby villages, including Umarpur and Inayatpur, faced the risk of being completely submerged, while authorities warned that floodwater could soon enter urban parts of Jalalpur Pirwala.

The Sutlej River is experiencing a high-level flood at Harike and Ferozepur downstream, prompting the PDMA to issue an alert for a very high flood level at Ganda Singh Wala.

At Ganda Singh Wala, the water flow has reached 230,000 cusecs, while the Head Sulemanki and Islam headworks were also experiencing high-level floods.

According to a PDMA spokesperson, the 10th spell of monsoon rains across Punjab has ended, and monsoon rains have also stopped in the upper catchment areas of the rivers.

As a result, no further increase in river water levels is expected, the spokesperson added.

Currently, the Chenab River is experiencing a low-level flood at Marala, Khanki, and Qadirabad headworks, while the water level is decreasing at Head Trimmu.

Breach planned near Multan

Flood conditions persisted near Multan, with the situation worsening in Jalalpur Pirwala.

To protect Jalalpur Pirwala, an embankment near Vehari Bridge was deliberately breached, causing dozens of areas to be submerged.

Thousands of affected people have moved to relief camps, where over 5,000 displaced victims were currently taking shelter.

Preparations were also underway to breach embankments at the Head Muhammad Wala and Shershah.

Due to flooding, seven villages in Liaquatpur have been inundated. A flow of over 253,000 cusecs was passing through the Head Ganda Singh Wala.

Meanwhile, at Muzaffargarh, the Chenab River is carrying a flood flow of over 500,000 cusecs, leading to a continued rise in water levels.

A second wave of flooding from the Chenab River is heading towards the Head Muhammad Wala in Multan.

As part of efforts to protect the city, authorities have prepared a plan to breach the Shershah embankment, a controversial but necessary move to divert the flow of floodwaters.

The authorities were also monitoring embankments at Akbar Bund and Graywala Bund, as scores of nearby settlements have already been submerged.

Punjab govt scales up rescue efforts

On the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, rescue supplies and personnel have been deployed to six cities in southern Punjab, including Multan, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, and Lodhran.

Authorities have also deployed boats in Multan, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, Lodhran and Bahawalpur to rescue people trapped in floodwater.

In Basti Baharan, a breach in the Baloch Wah embankment triggered an emergency evacuation in Jalalpur Pirwala and surrounding areas.

CM Maryam Nawaz has dispatched the Multan commissioner and deputy commissioner to monitor rescue operations.

Teams from the Pakistan Army and the Irrigation Department also arrived at the site to plug the breach, while efforts have been launched to relocate residents to safer areas.

Flood threat at Guddu Barrage

The Indus River is also swelling, with the water level at Guddu Barrage continuously rising.

Authorities warned that low-lying areas in Kashmore’s katcha region were at imminent risk.

According to the PDMA Sindh, up to 200 villages and approximately 224,000 people across the province could be affected if the current conditions worsen.