ISLAMABAD – Heavy rains continued to batter Punjab on Thursday, worsening the already severe flood situation across the province. Several rivers, including Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab, have risen to dangerous levels, flooding homes, crops, and roads.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), at least 46 people have died in Punjab due to floods. Nearly 3.5 million people have been affected, while around 1.5 million have been rescued so far. Officials confirmed that over 4,000 villages are now underwater.
Authorities fear that Multan city could be severely impacted. To reduce pressure on the Chenab, officials are considering breaching its riverbank to divert water to nearby areas. Multan Commissioner Amir Karim Khan said water levels were nearing the critical mark and were under constant monitoring.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a high alert, warning of dangerous water surges in the Sutlej River. Water releases from India’s Pong and Bhakra dams have pushed levels at Ganda Singh Wala to exceptionally high flood marks. Downstream, areas such as Kasur, Okara, Pakpattan, and Bahawalnagar remain on high alert.
In Gujrat, 506 mm of rainfall in just 24 hours caused massive urban flooding. Entire neighborhoods were submerged, leaving thousands stranded. Heavy rains also damaged crops across millions of acres in Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, and Lahore divisions. The agriculture sector is reporting losses worth billions.
More than 100 villages in Kasur district have been submerged due to high flows in the Sutlej. Families are forced to live in the open as floodwaters sweep through homes, fields, and schools.
Flash floods, broken dams, and overflowing rivers have disrupted life in several cities, including Jhang, Shorkot, Lodhran, and Toba Tek Singh. Officials expect floodwaters from the Chenab to move further south, threatening Sindh in the coming days.
Rescue teams, police, and local administrations remain engaged in relief operations. The NDMA has warned that heavy rains are expected to continue until mid-September, which could worsen the crisis further.
