Vast parts of Punjab are underwater as devastating floods caused by swollen rivers have displaced hundreds of thousands of people. The overflow of the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers has destroyed villages, submerged infrastructure, and damaged agricultural land across central Punjab.
Rising River Levels Trigger Crisis
The crisis began after days of heavy rainfall combined with excess water released from dams across the border. The surge forced the three trans-boundary rivers to swell beyond safe limits, inundating nearby towns and farmland. Officials warn that south Punjab may also face severe flooding as water from four rivers converges in the coming days.
Authorities have called in the army to assist with rescue and relief operations in at least eight districts, including Sialkot, Narowal, Hafizabad, Sargodha, Lahore, Kasur, Okara, and Faisalabad.
Casualties and Evacuations
Flooding has already claimed lives. Fifteen people were confirmed dead in Gujranwala division, with casualties reported in Sialkot, Gujrat, Narowal, Hafizabad, and Gujranwala city.
Over 150,000 people and 35,000 livestock have been relocated to safer areas. Relief operations are underway, with 263 relief camps and 161 medical facilities established to provide shelter, food, and emergency care. Officials estimate that more than 600,000 people across Punjab have been affected by the floods.
Flood Levels at Headworks
Key headworks across the province are under intense pressure. At Khanki Headworks on the Chenab, water outflow reached 966,427 cusecs, while Qadirabad recorded 1,054,883 cusecs. The Sutlej River at Ganda Singh Wala registered 261,053 cusecs. Meanwhile, the Ravi at Jassar showed “very high flood” levels at 166,500 cusecs.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has warned of a possible breach at Qadirabad Headworks, raising fears of severe flooding in Hafizabad and Chiniot. Officials cautioned that both districts could face significant destruction if the embankment fails.
Impacted Areas Across Punjab
Entire villages along the banks of the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers have been submerged. In Sialkot district alone, more than 130 villages are underwater. The situation is equally dire in Kasur, Bahawalnagar, Vehari, and Bahawalpur, where thousands have been displaced.
The historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib complex in Kartarpur was partially submerged, trapping more than 150 Sikh pilgrims and staff. Rescue teams safely evacuated them after hours of coordinated operations. Roads and highways across Narowal, Shakargarh, and Sialkot have also been washed away, cutting off access to several communities.
In northern Sialkot, nearly 70 villages in the Bajwat region were completely cut off after floodwaters engulfed the area between the Chenab and Tawi rivers. Local roads linking villages to Sialkot city were submerged, leaving residents dependent on boats for evacuation.
Relief and Government Response
The Punjab government has confirmed that over 601,000 citizens across 769 villages have been affected by the flooding. Rescue teams, supported by the army, police, and PDMA, are working around the clock.
Relief operations include the distribution of food, clean water, and medicine in heavily affected districts. The government has allocated Rs 900 million for emergency measures, with large-scale evacuations continuing in vulnerable areas.
Officials believe that while some headworks remain intact and water levels in certain areas are receding, the overall flood situation remains critical. The combined surge of the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej continues to threaten new areas downstream.
A Growing Humanitarian Challenge
Floodwaters have not only displaced families but also destroyed farmlands, leading to fears of food shortages in the coming months. With over half a million people already impacted, Punjab faces one of the worst flooding disasters in recent years.
The destruction of embankments, submerged highways, and washed-away bridges highlight the immense challenge of restoring normalcy. Communities are now relying on relief camps for survival while authorities brace for further flooding in south Punjab.
