LAHORE (Dunya News) – The water released by India into the rivers has caused devastation in the southern regions of Punjab – several embankments collapsed, and dozens of more villages submerged – with two people reported drowned.
Severe flooding in the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers continued to threaten villages. Two young men reportedly drowned in Mandi Bahauddin.
In Shujabad, near Sher Shah, the protective embankment of the village Gagra developed a 200-foot-wide breach that allowed water to flood nearby villages. In the village of Graywala in Multan, water levels continue to rise, submerging crops over hundreds of thousands of acres.
In Jhang, a moderate-level flood occurred in the Chenab River at Shorkot. A flow of 260,000 cusecs passed through the Sultan Bahu bridge. The floodwater struck the railway bridge at Darkhana, causing the Shorkot-Khanewal railway section to remain closed for a second day.
A high flood alert has been issued in Pindi Bhattian, where a flow of 557,000 cusecs is passing. In Ahmadpur Sial, a breach occurred in the Samandwana embankment, submerging several areas and damaging crops. In Liaquatpur, floodwaters from the Chenab and Indus Rivers wreaked havoc.
Many villages in Moza Noorwala were swallowed by floodwaters, and crops across large areas were submerged. In Chiniot, rescue teams continued operations in Thatta Hashmat and Moza Dom, relocating 25 people to safe places. So far, 1,312 people have been rescued.
Floods have also caused destruction in Khanewal, with water entering dozens of villages. In Uch Sharif, due to the surge in the Sutlej River, floodwaters entered 20 more residential areas, submerging thousands of acres of crops.
Rescue teams and district administration are actively carrying out relief operations in the affected areas; however, the intensity of the water is making access to several locations difficult.
At Trimmu, the Chenab River is facing a high-level flood. Water inflow at the Trimmu Barrage is recorded at 331,000 cusecs.
There are concerns about a dangerous flood situation in the Sutlej River near Arifwala. Several feet of floodwater has accumulated in Chak Yasin, where a government school has been affected by the floodwaters. Many other villages are also at risk. Thousands of acres of crops, connecting roads, and several villages have already been submerged.
Meanwhile, at Head Balloki, the water level in the Ravi River is rising. Due to the increasing water levels at Qutb Shahana, an alert has been issued in Sahiwal. A flow of 131,500 cusecs is passing at Qutb Shahana, and in Chichawatni, the flow is recorded at 126,400 cusecs.
GUDDU BARRAGE
In Sindh, a flow of more than 357,000 cusecs has entered the Guddu Barrage. According to the Sindh Irrigation Department, the upstream inflow at Guddu Barrage is 357,196 cusecs, while the downstream outflow is recorded at 337,746 cusecs.
According to the Sindh Information Department:
At Sukkur Barrage: Inflow is 322,227 cusecs, outflow is 245,220 cusecs.
At Kotri Barrage: Inflow is 251,558 cusecs, outflow is 222,553 cusecs.
There has been a slight decrease in water flow at Trimmu. At Panjnad, the inflow is 159,662 cusecs.
Also read: India issues Sutlej flood warning to Pakistan amid Punjab's swelling rivers
Dangerous flooding in the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers, combined with torrential rains, has caused massive destruction across many cities of Punjab. Hundreds more villages have been submerged, millions of acres of crops destroyed, and in Gujrat, urban flooding caused by heavy downpours has paralyzed life.