NDMA claims 210,000 evacuated as rivers burst in Punjab after India opens floodgates

Authorities in Punjab have so far evacuated thousands of people from areas along the rivers as Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers faced “exceptionally high” floods after India released water into Pakistan, officials said on Wednesday.

Punjab is facing an unprecedented flood emergency due to a combination of heavy rains and India’s decision to release water from at least two dams. Both countries have been ravaged by intense monsoon rains and flooding in recent weeks.

In response to the ongoing flood situation across the country, the Pakistan Army is actively conducting rescue and relief operations in Sialkot, Wazirabad, Okara, and other parts of Punjab to safeguard human lives, property, and livestock.

Troops are relocating individuals stranded by floodwaters to safe locations. In addition to evacuation efforts, they are distributing essential relief supplies to affected communities. In Okara, the Pakistan Army has successfully restored the Rohiwal Bridge, ensuring improved connectivity for relief efforts. Six dedicated rescue teams are working in close coordination with the civil administration along the Sutlej and Ravi rivers to carry out relief operations.

At Head Sulemanki and Attari, Army personnel are using boats to evacuate flood victims swiftly and safely to secure areas.

Once approved, the army will work alongside the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and district administrations to carry out relief and rescue efforts in flood-affected areas.

The official request, signed by the Punjab Home Secretary, now awaits federal government approval.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Pak Army troops have also joined hands in flood-hit Swat areas and helped the NDMA to rescue victims.

7 people swept away in flood near Sialkot

7 people were swept away in the flood in Chenab River in Sialkot. A young man who went to pick up his relatives is also missing. 5 members of a family from Majra village swept away in flood. The vitim include two women, two girls and two men. Three men including a child are still missing, search continues. More than 50 villages are under water due to the overflow of the Chenab River

Rangers join in relief, rescue operation

The personnel of Pakistan Rangers are participating in relief and rescue operation in the flood-hit areas of the Punjab as they have shifted more than 6,000 people and over 1,000 cattle, stranded in Ganda Singh in Kasur, to safe locations.  

As many as 30 villages in Kasur district have been inundated due to flooding in the River Sutlej. 

The personnel of Rangers, police and district administration are reaching out to the affected people on boats. 

Meanwhile, the repair of roads in the affected areas is underway.

Pakistan Army troops are present in Sialkot and Wazirabad to provide relief to flood victims. The military troops have started rescuing people trapped in the flood and shifting them to safe places. Army personnel are rescuing flood victims as well as delivering relief items

The district administration has broken the dam from Mandi Bahauddin to save Head Qadirabad.The soldiers of the Pakistan Army are also at the forefront in the evacuation of the flood victims of Qadirabad and their transfer to safe places. The rescue and relief operation of the Pakistan Army is being appreciated by the flood victims. In this hour of difficulty, the Pakistan Army stands by the people.

The Chenab River is expected to see a flood discharge of 9.5 to 1 million cusecs at Qadirabad. The Jhelum River also joins the Chenab at Trimu, which will add an additional 8,000 to 10,000 cusecs. After the highest flow at Qadirabad today, the flood discharge will reach Jhang and Trimu in the next 2-3 days.

The affected areas and union councils will include Jhang, Athara Hazari, Ahmedpur Sial, Garh Maharaja, Bagh, Kot Shakir. The western bank of the Chenab flood plain near Multan-Muzaffargarh bridge, which may affect Rohilanwala, Shahr Sultan, Baseera, Moradabad, Rangpur. In South Multan, the areas of Jalalpur Pirwala, Sher Shah, Basti Maluk (Southern Bank) may be affected. The union councils of Ach Sharif, Head Rajkan, Khairpur Tamimi Wali, Ahmedpur East near Panjand are included. In addition, the union councils of Chowk Azam and Taunsa, Kahror Pakka, Kot Sultan, Juman Shah may be affected. 

Army rescues 80 members of Sikh Community trapped in floods

Pak Army successfully rescued 80 members of the Sikh community trapped in flood-hit Daska and shifted them to ‎safe places, while dozens of members of the Sikh community were shifted to safer locations.‎ Members of the ‎Sikh community appreciated the Army’s timely relief efforts.‎
According to the officials, Pakistan Rangers Punjab also rescued 35 people along with their livestock in Sulaimanki.‎
Pakistan Rangers Punjab also rescued people trapped in floodwaters in Dera Kartarpur and established free medical ‎camps to provide immediate treatment and medicines to flood victims.‎
Like other organizations, Pakistan Rangers Punjab is ‎always ready to serve its compatriots in this hour of difficulty.‎
Floods have severely affected large parts of Punjab, with Sialkot being among the worst-hit areas. Relief and rescue ‎operations remain ongoing

The Chenab River is expected to see a flood discharge of 9.5 to 1 million cusecs at Qadirabad. The Jhelum River also joins the Chenab at Trimu, which will add an additional 8,000 to 10,000 cusecs. After the highest flow at Qadirabad today, the flood discharge will reach Jhang and Trimu in the next 2-3 days. 

The affected areas and union councils will include Jhang, Athara Hazari, Ahmedpur Sial, Garh Maharaja, Bagh, Kot Shakir. The western bank of the Chenab flood plain near Multan-Muzaffargarh bridge, which may affect Rohilanwala, Shahr Sultan, Baseera, Moradabad, Rangpur. In South Multan, the areas of Jalalpur Pirwala, Sher Shah, Basti Maluk (Southern Bank) may be affected. The union councils of Ach Sharif, Head Rajkan, Khairpur Tamimi Wali, Ahmedpur East near Panjand are included. In addition, the union councils of Chowk Azam and Taunsa, Kahror Pakka, Kot Sultan, Juman Shah may be affected. 

Floods in Pakpattan district have submerged crops on thousands of acres in an 80-km-long strip. According to irrigation sources, erosion in the Sutlej River has increased the risk of disaster in villages and settlements. Irrigation sources say that there is moderate flooding at the Sulaimanki head in the Sutlej River. A 100,000 cusecs water rail is flowing from the Sulaimanki head in Pakpattan to the lower areas. A 250,000 cusecs water rail will flow from the Ganda Singhwala head to the lower areas. 

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik Wednesday said that nearly 210,000 people have been safely evacuated from flood-affected regions with no casualties reported.

Speaking to the media, Lt Gen Malik said the large-scale rescue efforts were carried out in close coordination with the Pakistan Army, Rangers, Rescue 1122, Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs), and other agencies. Evacuees have been relocated to relief camps where they are receiving medical care, food, and other essential services. These facilities will remain operational until families can safely return to their homes.
Chairman NDMA acknowledged the logistical support provided by the Prime Minister’s Office, which has supplied 5,000 tents for relief operations.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit vulnerable areas on Thursday, including Narowal, Sialkot, and flood-affected regions along the Sutlej River in Lahore. The NDMA has issued early warnings for a new spell of rainfall expected between August 29 and September 9, particularly in the catchment zones of the flooded areas. Local administrations, NGOs, and other stakeholders have been alerted to take precautionary measures to minimize potential losses.
 
Lt Gen Malik further stated that water flow at Panjnad is expected to surge between 600,000 to 700,000 cusecs in the coming days. NDMA is actively sharing early warning information with the Sindh PDMA and other relevant authorities to ensure timely preparedness. Pressure levels at key downstream points such as Kotri and Guddu are also being monitored closely.

NDMA chairman said monsoon has claimed 804 lives so far. Evacuation from flood-affected areas along the Sutlej River will continue as water levels rise. The people were being moved to safer locations through coordinated efforts involving Rescue 1122, the Pakistan Army, Rangers, and the Punjab PDMA. Army formations are implementing evacuation measures in their respective zones under directives from the Chief of Army Staff, (COAS) with priority given to relocating vulnerable populations.

Additional rainfall is expected in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), prompting NDMA to urge citizens to stay informed through the NDMA Disaster Alert mobile application. Safety guidelines and area-specific precautions are available on the NDMA portal.
 NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik has reaffirmed that early warnings have been issued for the next 25 to 45 days, with a particular focus on northern Punjab, Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), where heavy rainfall may lead to further flooding.

PM orders immediate measures to address potential urban flooding in Gujrat, Sialkot, Lahore
     
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to take immediate and comprehensive measures to address the potential urban flooding in Gujrat, Sialkot, and Lahore. He issued these directives while chairing a meeting in Islamabad today to review the challenges arising from heavy rainfall in Punjab and the flood situation in the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers.

The Prime Minister said the National Disaster Management Authority has already provided tents for the affected areas in Punjab. He emphasized that the supply of other essential items must continue without interruption. He further stressed the need to ensure an uninterrupted power supply, restore communication channels, and repair damaged roads in flood-hit regions. The Minister for Communications, Minister for Power, Secretary Power, and Chairman of the National Highway Authority have been instructed to reach Lahore and extend full, practical support to the provincial government.

Reaffirming the federal government’s commitment, Shehbaz Sharif vowed that all flood-related challenges in the provinces would be addressed through coordinated efforts at the national level. He noted that the federal government had extended every possible assistance to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during recent floods and assured that the same level of support would be provided to Punjab.

The Chairman NDMA briefed the Prime Minister on the flood situation. It was informed that high-level flooding is expected at Head Marala and Khanki due to increased water discharge in the Chenab River. To facilitate timely evacuation, 2,000 trucks have been mobilized and are on standby for deployment.

The meeting was further updated of heavy water discharge pressure at Jassar and Shahdara on the Ravi River and at Ganda Singh Wala and Sulemanki on the Sutlej River.

Villages in Narowal, Shakargarh flooded

Dozens of villages and the rice crop grown over thousands of acres of land in the surroundings of the River Ravi at Jasarr in Narowal were flooded after the river, which was in high flood, burst its banks.

The water was fast moving towards Narowal city. And to make matters worse, the water level in the river continued to rise. Around 236,000 cusecs of water was passing through the river till last reports came in.

Similar was the situation in Shakargarh where water from the River Ravi entered homes and washed away food items and people's belongings. 

Around 12 to 15 members of a family, belonging to Jurmian Jhanda area of Shakargarh, were stranded in floodwater. A youth sent footage of the family to the 24News TV channel, showing men, women and children, imploring Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for help. 

They said that despite the fact that the authorities had assured them that they would be rescued, no one had helped them so far. 

They expressed the fear that they would drown in the event of further delay in the provision of assistance. 

Wazirabad under threat

Meanwhile, the River Chenab was also in high flood till last reports came in, posing a direct threat to Wazirabad. 

River Sutlej wreaks havoc in Kasur

Road links between several villages were severed after the River Sutlej burst its banks in Kasur. Last night, India had released 250,000 cusecs of water into the river.

The situation was no different in Kanganpur where floodwater entered dozens of villages, destroying crops grown over thousands of acres of land. 188,000 cusecs of water was passing through the River Sutlej in the area till last reports came in. 

Pakistan Army personnel and others were cooperating with the local administration and were shifting the affected people to safe locations. 

According to National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC), there is an extraordinary flood situation in the rivers Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej.

There is a very high flood level of 769,481 cusecs at Marala in Chenab River, which may exceed further. At Khanki on River Chenab, there is an extremely high flood discharge of 705,225 cusecs, with the flow decreasing. In River Ravi at Jassar, a high flood of 202,200 cusecs is passing, which can reach up to 229,700 cusecs. In River Ravi at Shahdara, a flow of 72,900 cusecs is ongoing.  Low-lying areas of Shahdara, Park View and Motorway-2 are at risk of flooding. In River Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala, an extremely high flood of 245,000 cusecs continues.

The current flow at Sulemanki in the Sutlej River is 100,355 cusecs. As per the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is monitoring all rescue and relief activities. National Emergencies Operation Center is fully operational round the clock. NDMA is in contact with civil and military agencies. Residents living along riverbanks and waterways have been advised to immediately move to safe locations.

 

Reporters: Awais Kiyani, Hashir Warraich, Ahmad Mansoor, Yasir Arafat, Ishtiaq Rabbani, Zakir Hussain Khan, Hameed Kasuri