ISLAMABAD/LAHORE — Pakistan’s Punjab province is bracing for days of intense rainfall and rising river levels as authorities confirm that more than 170,000 residents have been evacuated from flood-prone districts.
Officials from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said early warnings helped initiate mass evacuations ahead of potential disaster. Troops from the Pakistan Army, Rescue 1122, and local authorities are leading ongoing rescue and relief efforts.
Sutlej and Ravi Rivers Pose Greatest Risk
The Sutlej River has already swelled to 195,000 cusecs, prompting an “extremely high flood” warning, while the Ravi is also nearing dangerous levels. At Jassar, water flow in the Ravi has reached 115,000 cusecs and is expected to rise further as spillways from India’s Ranjit Sagar Dam—now at 97% capacity—may be opened.
Authorities say this combination of heavy rainfall in upstream regions, dam discharges, and inflows from mountainous streams like Bein, Basantar, and Dek could trigger widespread flooding over the next 48 hours.
District-by-District Impact
The NDMA reported significant evacuations from:
- Bahawalnagar: 89,868 people
- Kasur: 14,140
- Okara: 2,063
- Pakpattan: 873
- Bahawalpur: 361
- Vehari: 165
Thousands more left their homes voluntarily after initial alerts. Evacuation orders are in place for communities living inside riverbeds along the Ravi and Sutlej.
Government Ramps Up Response
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level review meeting on Tuesday, directing federal and provincial agencies to intensify rescue efforts and ensure rapid delivery of food, medicine, and shelter to displaced families.
Officials confirmed that pre-emptive evacuations have prevented casualties so far despite severe flooding at key points including Ganda Singh Wala and Sulemanki (Sutlej), Jassar (Ravi), and Marala (Chenab).
Punjab’s PDMA Director General, Irfan Ali Kathia, ordered local administrations to use mosque loudspeakers and other channels to warn residents, stressing that “no negligence will be tolerated” in safeguarding lives.
National Impact: KP and GB Also Struggling
Floodwaters and landslides are affecting other provinces as well:
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP): Authorities are working to restore electricity in submerged areas.
- Gilgit-Baltistan (GB): A two-kilometer stretch of the national highway is under water, with repairs underway.
- Kashmir’s hilly regions face risks of landslides and flash floods that could block major roads.
More Rains Ahead
Meteorologists warn that the current monsoon spell will persist, with heavy rainfall forecast in northeastern Punjab, Kashmir, and parts of KP and Balochistan. Low-lying urban areas—including Lahore, Narowal, Gujranwala, and Sialkot—are at high risk of urban flooding.
The NDMA is urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel, stay updated via mobile alerts and TV, and follow official evacuation orders.
