ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday visited flood-affected areas of Punjab, where he conducted an aerial survey of the devastated regions.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz accompanied the Prime Minister on the visit to Narowal, where both leaders jointly inspected the flood-hit areas from the air.
During the aerial survey, NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider briefed the Prime Minister on the overall flood situation, rising water levels in Punjab’s rivers, and ongoing rescue operations in submerged areas.
Reviewing the situation, the Prime Minister directed authorities to ensure timely relief measures and effective protection efforts for the affected population.
Later in Narowal, both Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz were given a detailed on-ground briefing regarding the flood emergency.
Flood situation in Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers
The Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) in its report said that Rivers Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej are currently flowing very high to extremely high flood-level at different places in Punjan.
Water level in the Ravi River was continuously increasing. At Jassar, the water flow in Ravi has reached 229,700 cusecs, categorized as extremely high flood levels. Ravi River is flowing at very high-level flood in Shahdara and water flow reached 155,000 cusecs.
River Chenab is flowing in extremely high flood level at Head Qadirabad, where the situation remains extremely dangerous. The water flow has reached 1,054,000 cusecs, and erosion at Qadirabad Headworks is intensifying, raising fears of a breach.
To protect Head Qadirabad, two embankments of River Chenab have been breached by the authorities — one near Mandi Bahauddin and another at Alipur Chatha.
Authorities have appealed to residents living near the riverbanks to evacuate. At Head Khanki, the water flow has reached 981,700 cusecs, and at Head Marala, it's 280,910 cusecs. A severe flood situation is expected at Kot Momin, where over 700,000 cusecs of water will pass tonight.