Death toll rises to 41 as Punjab braces for fresh wave of floods

LAHORE (Dunya News) - National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Monday has issued an official flood alert due to risk of further surge in Sutlej, Ravi and Chenab rivers.

According to NDMA, heavy rainfalls and the release of water from India are expected to cause severe flooding in the rivers. The flood situation remains critical in all three rivers:

At Head Trimmu, Chenab River is flowing at an extremely high flood level, with water flow exceeding 541,000 cusecs. Several nearby villages have been submerged in floodwater. At Head Muhammad Wala, a flood wave of 600,000 to 700,000 cusecs is expected.

The flood level remains extremely high in Sutlej River at Head Ganda Singh, with a recorded flow of 253,000 cusecs.

At Head Balloki in River Ravi, an extremely high flood has been recorded, with water flow reaching 148,000 cusecs. Dozens of villages have been submerged, and crops have been damaged on a large scale.

At Head Sidhnai, a high flood level is also reported, with water flow recorded at 105,000 cusecs.

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Floodwaters have entered homes in the river belt, affecting thousands of people and destroying hundreds of acres of standing crops. At Head Sulemanki, water levels have begun to recede, yet more than 100 villages remain underwater.

At Head Panjnad, the water inflow has reached 121,000 cusecs.

In Mari Patan, many homes have been swept away by the floods. In Multan, the Chenab River has inundated 138 low-lying settlements, destroying thousands of acres of cotton and other crops.

In Okara, flood waves from the Ravi have submerged dozens of villages.

Punjab Floods Death Toll Reaches 41

According to the latest figures released by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the ongoing floods have claimed 41 lives so far.

Torrential river flows and inundated villages have forced the displacement of thousands, with the disaster impacting 3,129 villages and affecting a population of over 2.4 million (24,08,000 people).

The River Chenab has been the most destructive, submerging 1,578 villages, while the Ravi and Sutlej rivers have affected 1,033 and 518 villages respectively.

Authorities have launched an extensive relief operation. So far, 932,323 people have been evacuated to safer locations.

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390 flood relief camps and 389 medical camps have been established to assist those in need.

Thousands of displaced families are currently being sheltered in temporary relief centers set up by the government and aid agencies.