Breaches and Rising Waters: A Dire Situation in Punjab
Punjab’s flood situation remains critical as the region grapples with intense river flows, causing widespread devastation. On Saturday, the Ravi River was flowing in high flood at Shahdara, with water levels reaching 129,000 cusecs, while the Balloki headworks experienced a very high flood with 211,000 cusecs of water. The situation worsened when a mini dam in Domeli (Dina Tehsil, Jhelum District) breached due to the immense water pressure, flooding local homes. At least 15 people were rescued from Manga Mandi and Malhi Village as the floodwaters wreaked havoc.
In Ganda Singh Wala, a similarly high level of flood was reported along the Sutlej River, with 303,000 cusecs passing through. Although the water level at Islam headworks has decreased, Trimmu headworks is seeing increasing water pressure, with authorities anticipating a flood wave of 900,000 cusecs to pass through Jhang on Sunday morning, between 6 am and 9 am. Similarly, 700,000 cusecs are expected at Head Muhammad Wala, potentially requiring breaching measures.
Efforts Underway to Manage Rising Waters and Aid Flood Victims
According to the Director-General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Irfan Ali Kathia, relief operations are in full swing across the flood-affected regions. As of Saturday, 20 villages near the Sutlej River were evacuated overnight as floodwaters moved toward Head Sulemanki. Rescue teams, including Pakistan Army units, are working tirelessly, evacuating thousands from flood-prone areas. The PDMA warned that the next 24 hours will be crucial, especially for the Islam headworks.
On Friday, the Punjab government took the drastic step of breaching the Rewas Bridge to control the water flow and prevent damage to the infrastructure. Meanwhile, a 900,000 cusec flood wave is expected to pass through the Guddu Barrage on Sunday, putting additional strain on already overburdened systems.
Death Toll and Relief Operations
According to Senior Punjab Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, the death toll has reached 30, with over 1.5 million people affected by the floods in Punjab. In a briefing, she stated that 481,000 people have been safely moved to shelters, and the floodwaters have impacted 2,038 villages across Punjab, particularly in areas along the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers.
As part of relief efforts, 511 relief camps and 351 medical camps have been set up, offering 24/7 assistance to victims. Over 6,000 people are currently residing in these camps, and more than 400,000 livestock have been safely relocated. In the past 36 hours, 68,477 people have been rescued.
Aurangzeb acknowledged the role of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in preventing further loss of life, citing the success of anti-encroachment measures and flood preparedness initiatives. After the recovery phase, she added, the government will focus on eliminating encroachments and creating a comprehensive flood management strategy based on the lessons learned from the ongoing disaster.
