Southern Punjab is facing another flood emergency as authorities in Multan prepare a controlled breach at the Sher Shah embankment. The decision comes in response to rapidly rising water levels in the Chenab River, which continue to threaten lives, property, and infrastructure across several districts.
Rising River Pressure in Multan
The irrigation department confirmed that water flows exceeding 540,000 cusecs from Trimmu are expected to reach Multan soon. At Sher Shah, water levels have already crossed 400,000 cusecs. Officials stated that riverbed areas were inundated earlier, and the breach was necessary due to limited capacity to hold further water.
Nearby settlements have been alerted, and evacuation announcements are ongoing. Authorities emphasized the need for immediate relocation of residents in low-lying villages to prevent disasters similar to the Jalalpur Pirwala flooding.
Disruption of Rail and Road Networks
City Police Officer Sadiq Ali Dogar announced that both rail and road traffic would be suspended once the breach is carried out. Rail traffic between Multan, Kundian, and Rawalpindi will stop, while Muzaffargarh Road will also be closed for safety.
PDMA and NDMA Step Up Response
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) highlighted that Multan has remained under heavy flood pressure for the last 48 hours. Emergency resources, including 50 boats and five drones, are now deployed. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has also issued fresh rain alerts for Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan, warning of possible urban flooding, river overflows, and landslides.
Heavy rain is forecast for Multan, Layyah, Khanewal, Vehari, Bahawalpur, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, and Rahim Yar Khan. In Sindh, Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Tharparkar, and Umerkot are on high alert, while in Balochistan, Zhob, Loralai, Khuzdar, Dera Bugti, and Lasbela are expected to receive heavy rainfall with thunderstorms.
Tragedies Amid Evacuations
Despite intensified rescue operations, tragedies continue. In Rahim Yar Khan’s Moza Noor Wala, a boat carrying displaced people capsized, leaving five dead. Pakistan Army divers recovered three bodies while the search continues for two missing individuals. In a separate incident, four people drowned in Jalalpur Pirwala’s Chak 86-M. Locals recovered two bodies without official rescue assistance.
Mass Displacement and Relief Efforts
Rescue 1122 reported that more than 10,800 people have been evacuated in Multan so far, with 2,343 rescued in the last 24 hours. Officials stated that 350,000 people and 300,000 animals have been relocated in advance.
Floodwaters have already inundated over 100 villages in Jalalpur Pirwala. Embankment breaches in the area have submerged hundreds of homes. Multan’s urban dam remains under critical stress, with reinforcement work ongoing to prevent collapse. In Muzaffargarh, the Chenab’s high flood levels have submerged villages, while in Jhang, continuous rain has washed away tent settlements for displaced families.
Dams at Critical Levels
Water storage levels across Pakistan’s major dams are nearing capacity. Tarbela Dam has reached 100 percent storage at 1,550 feet, while Mangla Dam is at 90 percent capacity. Smaller dams, including Khanpur, Rawal, and Simli, are also close to full levels. With more rainfall predicted, fears of additional flooding remain high.
On Tuesday, inflows and outflows of major waterways highlighted the immense pressure on river systems, with 609,669 cusecs recorded at Panjnad and 543,000 cusecs at Trimmu.
Southern Punjab faces a worsening flood crisis as authorities attempt to manage rising river levels with controlled breaches and mass evacuations. With heavy rains forecast, overflowing dams, and continued displacement of families, the coming days will test Pakistan’s disaster management systems.
