LAHORE: Severe riverine flooding in Punjab has claimed at least 25 lives, authorities said. The floods are caused by unusually heavy monsoon rains and water released from upstream in India into the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers.
Five members of a family died in Sambarial, Sialkot district. Gujranwala division reported 15 deaths, Gujrat four, Narowal three, and Hafizabad two. Hundreds of villages in Kasur, Narowal, and Pindi Bhattian have been submerged, leaving thousands homeless.
The floods have swept away hundreds of cattle and destroyed thousands of acres of crops. In Bahawalnagar, several houses were submerged, and local communities continue to face a severe crisis. Water from the Chenab River has entered dozens of villages in Chiniot and Wazirabad, worsening the situation.
According to the Flood Forecasting Division, the River Ravi at Shahdara reached a dangerous level of 145,000 cusecs, while at Jassar it recorded 152,000 cusecs. Lahore officials confirmed the peak flow has passed, and water levels are expected to recede, keeping the city safe.
The River Chenab is experiencing extremely high floods at Khanki and Qadirabad barrages, with flows reaching 859,000 and 996,000 cusecs. At Head Marala, the flow is around 191,000 cusecs. Authorities have urged residents near the rivers to stay vigilant.
Similarly, the River Sutlej is in high flood at multiple points. Ganda Singh Wala reported inflows of 261,000 cusecs, and Head Sulemanki recorded 109,000 cusecs. In Chishtian, strong currents have broken six protective embankments, flooding more than 300 villages and destroying crops over 7,000 acres.
Local farmers have constructed an eight-kilometre embankment to protect homes. Officials warn that failure of the embankment could put up to 20,000 houses at risk. In Bahawalnagar, over 105 villages and around 150,000 people have been affected. Nearly 90,000 residents have evacuated, while rescue operations continue in cut-off areas.
The Punjab floods are among the most devastating in recent years, with authorities and communities working together to mitigate further damage.
For more details on the public holiday declared in Gujrat and Sialkot amid the worsening floods, read the full report here.
