Multan is on edge as flood submerges tehsil after tehsil

Extreme flood threat by Sep 9 in Ravi, Chenab, Sutlej: PDMA issues high alert: Floodwater rises at Ahmadpur Sharqia, Liaqatpur, Tamewali, Muzaffargarh: Torrential rains in hilly areas raise alarm in Jehlum and Sindh rivers: Thousands evacuated in Vehari, Mailsi, Burewala: Flood conditions in Lahore improved; relief camps in 41 schools closed: Super flood enters Sindh from Punjab: PDMA Punjab forecasts more rain tomorrow

Published: 09:50 AM, 8 Sep, 2025
Featured News, Topics, Environment
Multan is on edge as flood submerges tehsil after tehsil
Caption: Flood-affected residents fix a damaged structure after the flood in River Chenab in Muzaffargarh.–AFP

Multan is on the edge as surging floodwater decimated village after village in areas around it, engulfing thousands of houses, flattening standing crops and triggering evacuations and rescues, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

District officials said that low-lying areas of Multan had been inundated and could be completely submerged soon.
All Punjab rivers were flowing in high flood with River Chenab in extremely high flood state wreaking havoc in Jalalpur Pirwala Tehsil of Multan.

Punjab CM orders PDMA officials on site 

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said that the PDMA and the entire district administration were on site and actively managing the situation as Multan’s Jalalpur Pirwala Tehsil surging flood.

In a post on her X account, Maryam Nawaz said: “PDMA, Rescue 1122, and the entire district administration are on site, actively managing the situation. Nearly 2,000 people have been safely evacuated so far, and rescue operations will continue through the night.

“The situation and ongoing operations are being minutely monitored through thermal imaging drones to ensure rapid response and prevent any loss of precious life,” she added.

Evacuation alerts

Evacuation warnings were sent to the public affected by flood in several towns of Muzaffargarh and Alipur Jatoi.

Hundreds of people were evacuated from Khan Bela localities of Karamwali and Durrabpur and 2,343 were rescued during the last 24 hours.

1,500 Vehari houses under water

Over 1,500 houses were inundated when an embankment was breached in Akbar Shah village of Luddan in District Vehari. The roaring floodwater also destroyed cotton, corn and fodder crops, rendering villagers without any food and drinking water. The roads were also inaccessible.

Dykes breached in Mailsi

In Mailsi, dykes breached in Qazi Kalra and Govanas cutting off road link with the main city. Several areas of Ouch Sharif and Bahawalpur were also submerged in the floodwater.

The people have started to make drum-supported rafts in Khairpur Daha area of Ahmadpur Sharqia after flood water created large-scale devastation.

‘Everything we own’ destroyed

The situation was not different in Tarinda Muhammad Panah in District Rahimyar Khan.

Helpless flood affectees were now camping at the Manchan embankment after “everything we owned” was destroyed in Ali Daya, Gul Muhammad Ganga and Gormani towns.

They complained that the administration has not yet reached to them and they were without any food and drinking water or any chaff for the cattle.

The high flood in River Sutlej also submerged dozens of villages and localities in Burewala. The continuous rain was adding more salt to their injuries.

 Extreme flood threat by Sep 9 in Ravi, Chenab, Sutlej

The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has warned of an extremely high-level flood in the rivers Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab by September 9, while an unusual rise in the water levels of other rivers, including Jhelum and Indus, is also expected due to heavy rains in the upper regions, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Monday.

According to PDMA Punjab Director General Irfan Ali Kathia, the flood threat in major rivers remains high until September 9. As a precautionary measure, and in line with the instructions of Punjab’s Chief Minister, all relevant departments are on high alert, and maximum resources are being deployed to protect citizens’ lives and property.

High-level flood at Ganda Singh Wala, Head Suleimanki

In addition, the PDMA spokesperson stated that the situation across Punjab's rivers remains turbulent. In the Sutlej River, an extremely high-level flood is observed at Ganda Singh Wala, where water flow has reached 319,000 cusecs. At Suleimanki, the river is experiencing a high-level flood, with water discharge at 135,000 cusecs.

Extreme flood at Head Trimmu in River Chenab

In the Chenab River, a low-level flood is reported at Khanki Headworks, with a water flow of 147,000 cusecs, while at Qadirabad, the water level is the same. However, at Head Trimmu, the Chenab is experiencing an extremely high-level flood, with an overwhelming 543,000 cusecs surging through.

Ravi River under pressure 

The Ravi River is also under pressure. At Jassar, it is at a low flood level with a flow of 45,000 cusecs, while at Shahdara, the flood level is high, reaching 90,000 cusecs. At Balloki Headworks, the Ravi is experiencing an extremely high-level flood, with 139,000 cusecs, and at Head Sidhnai, the flood is at a high level, with 123,000 cusecs.

Flood hits Sahiwal and Chichawatni areas

According to the Irrigation Department, in Sahiwal, a high-level flood is moving through the Qutb Shahana point of the Ravi, where 144,800 cusecs of floodwater is passing. At Chichawatni, the river is carrying 14,700 cusecs, and local authorities have been placed on alert to handle the situation.

In Sahiwal, villages situated close to the riverbanks have been evacuated, and residents have been moved to safer locations. Meanwhile, the administration in Chichawatni is fully alert and monitoring the situation closely.

Hundreds of settlements near Chishtian submerged:

The Sutlej River has wreaked havoc across parts of Punjab, submerging hundreds of settlements near Chishtian after multiple embankments broke under pressure. Residents are fleeing to safer ground as Pakpattan reports several homes being swept away by the floodwaters.

Floodwater rises at Ahmadpur Sharqia, Liaqatpur, Tamewali, Muzaffargarh:

Meanwhile, in the Chenab River, a high-level flood has been recorded in Bahawalpur, particularly near Ahmadpur Sharqia and Liaqatpur, where floodwaters have inundated nearby communities and destroyed standing crops. In Daaha Khairpur, a suburban area of Ahmadpur Sharqia, at least twelve villages have been completely submerged, leaving residents stranded.

In Khairpur Tamewali, another area of Bahawalpur, the Sutlej continues to unleash destruction. A significant rise in water levels has led to further breaches in embankments, drowning hundreds of villages. The water level at Head Syphon has now reached 112,000 cusecs, raising fresh alarms. Elsewhere, in Ali Pur, a region in Muzaffargarh, a flood wave has surged into Basti Gabol, flooding homes and farmland and forcing families to evacuate.

Flood conditions in Lahore improved; relief camps in 41 schools closed:

On the other hand, improving flood conditions in Lahore have allowed authorities to close down 41 flood-relief camps operating in school buildings, where educational activities have resumed from today. However, in Hafizabad, the closure of schools in flood-hit zones has been extended until September 12.

Super flood enters Sindh from Punjab:

According to the PDMA Sindh, the floodwater arriving from Punjab has entered the Guddu Barrage, and an additional 400,000 cusecs of water is expected over the next two days.

 PDMA Sindh DG Salman Shah warned that further rainfall in the Koh-e-Suleiman range could worsen river flows. At Panjnad, a massive 500,000 cusecs of water is currently heading toward Sindh, with 800,000 cusecs expected to accumulate at Guddu within two days. Preparations for a super flood are underway.

Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon confirmed that while the situation is under control at Guddu, Sukkur, and Kotri Barrages, the most dangerous conditions persist at Head Trimmu and Panjnad. He further noted that 133,000 people and over 300,000 livestock have already been shifted to safe areas, with Sukkur seeing the highest number of rescue operations.

PDMA Punjab forecasts more rain tomorrow:

Additionally, a PDMA Punjab spokesperson forecast severe thunderstorm activity across most districts of Punjab in the next 24 hours, keeping emergency teams on high alert. The 10th spell of monsoon rains is expected to continue until September 9, with predicted rainfall in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Lahore, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Okara, Sahiwal, Kasur, Jhang, Sargodha, Mianwali, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, and Rajanpur.

Water flow in rivers:

The water flow in major rivers continues to rise. In the Ravi River, inflows reached 150,000 cusecs by late Sunday night. In response, authorities plan to implement controlled breaches along the Jhang–Multan road, especially between Haveli Koranga and Haji Dawana, to ease pressure on vulnerable embankments. The Head Muhammad Wala Bridge has also been closed to all traffic as a safety measure.

As of now, Head Balloki is recording 157,000 cusecs, and Head Sidhnai more than 110,000 cusecs, both falling under high flood categories. The Chenab River has surged to nearly 448,000 cusecs at Chiniot, posing a significant threat to low-lying areas. The Sutlej River also remains under high flood conditions, with Head Suleimanki recording flows above 132,000 cusecs.

Girl dies in Pindi Bhattian camp

A nine-year-old girl lost her life while living in a flood relief camp established in Pindi Bhattian.

The father of the girl said that his daughter died after a poisonous insect bit her. He further said that “we have been living in this relief camp for the last seven days.”

He said that his daughter died within half an hour after the incident.

It is necessary to mention here, that no health camp was established by the Punjab Health Department in Pindi Bhattian.

The Punjab government is only providing them with food and a place to live.

Reporters: Bilal Shakir Joya, Ghulam Ali, Kashif Hussain Chaudhry, Khalid Chaudhry, Khadim Hussain Soomro, Mushtaq Joiya, Aajiz Jamali, Rana Imran Saeedi, Malik Nasir and Ali Ramay

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