The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Punjab has issued a warning of an extremely high-level flood in the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers until September 5. According to officials, a high flood level persists at Ganda Singh Wala, while a major flood wave in the Chenab River is moving towards South Punjab.
PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia confirmed that the flood wave is expected to reach Multan tonight from the Trimmu headworks, where the water flow has surged to 516,000 cusecs. The wave will likely hit Head Mohammad Wala in Multan by evening.
Authorities have placed explosives at designated points for deliberate breaches to control the flow of water. Kathia added that the next two to four hours are critical at the Sidhnai headworks near Khanewal.
The situation has already caused massive devastation. In Jhang, more than 200 villages have been submerged, while in Muzaffargarh and Bhawana tehsil of Chiniot, dozens of settlements and crops have gone underwater.
Shujabad has also witnessed crop destruction due to rising floodwaters. A flood wave of 800,000 to 900,000 cusecs is currently passing through Trimmu headworks, threatening over 400 villages.
The PDMA has warned of worsening conditions in nine districts after India released water into the Sutlej River. These include Kasur, Okara, Bahawalnagar, Pakpattan, Vehari, Lodhran, Bahawalpur, Multan, and Muzaffargarh. Flood levels at Harike and Ferozepur on the Sutlej remain high, while the Ravi River continues to swell at Maripattan, Balloki headworks, and Sadhnai.
Authorities fear that thousands of people could be displaced, with millions already affected by submerged roads, villages, and crops. The collapse of protective embankments in Sahiwal has worsened the crisis. More rains in upper catchment areas until September 3 are expected to aggravate the flood situation further, raising concerns of urban flooding in major cities.
