Punjab's downstream areas face flood threat as India warns of 'high flood' in Sutlej

LAHORE, MULTAN (Dunya News) – India has once again released water into the Sutlej River, while flood conditions persist in other rivers across the country, submerging hundreds of more villages.

The Indian High Commission informed Pakistan about the water release and contacted through official channels. At Head Panjnad, an extremely high flood situation continues, with water flow rising to 530,000 cusecs.

High flood threat at Harike and Ferozepur

According to the Ministry of Water Resources, there is a severe flood threat at Harike and Ferozepur points in the Sutlej River. The ministry has issued an emergency alert to all concerned departments.

Pressure has mounted on Shershah and Akbar embankments, while the Muzaffargarh–Jhang highway has been submerged since yesterday. At Jawana Bangla, water level on the main road rose above two feet, suspending traffic.

At Bhukan Pattan in the Sutlej, a high flood is underway, affecting 145 adjoining villages; hundreds of settlements have been engulfed by floodwaters. The Khanewal–Shorkot railway section remains closed for the eighth day. In Kahror Pakka, the protective bund of Tibba Wadan collapsed due to Sutlej flooding, allowing water to enter several localities.

In Ali Pur, Muzaffargarh, eight people drowned in floodwaters; two were rescued, the body of a child was recovered, while five remain missing.

In Lodhran, the breach of a protective embankment submerged several villages including Hayatpur, Muradpur, and Peepalwala. Three boys trapped in the flood were rescued.

High flood in Sutlej

According to the Deputy Commissioner, a high flood prevails in the Sutlej River, with 98 locations in Bahawalpur district either fully or partially submerged. Around 150,000 people in the district have been affected.

Reports indicate that a massive wave of the Chenab River has inundated vast areas of South Punjab. For Multan and nearby districts, the next two days are deemed extremely critical, as the region faces an "unprecedented flood emergency," prompting large-scale evacuations.

Multan, along with Muzaffargarh, Shujaabad, Khan Garh, Jalalpur Pirwala, Uch Sharif, and Alipur, are at risk as the second major flood wave passes near Head Muhammad Wala and Shershah Bridge. At Shershah, water level is still half a foot below the high-alert threshold. Authorities have decided that if the level crosses 393.50 feet, the Shershah embankment will be breached, potentially affecting 8,000 houses and 30,000 people.

In Muzaffargarh, 138 villages have been submerged, affecting 135,000 people, while another 28 villages in Rangpur are underwater, displacing an additional 50,000. The Multan–Muzaffargarh road at Shershah Bridge was temporarily closed but later reopened for light traffic.

Severe threat to Jalalpur Pirwala

According to Multan Deputy Commissioner Waseem Hameed Sindhu, the inflow of 500,000 cusecs from Head Trimmu has raised water levels at Head Muhammad Wala. If a high flood hits, Shershah Road will be breached immediately.

He added that in the past 24 hours, another 2,000 people have been rescued from Jalalpur Pirwala. With the Sutlej and Chenab floodwaters, Jalalpur Pirwala remains under severe threat, and emergency has been imposed there for the next 24 hours.

Commissioner Multan Aamir Kareem Khan supervised rescue operations in Jalalpur Pirwala, where 50 villages were affected, and over 235,296 people along with more than 180,000 livestock have been relocated to safe places.

Upper Punjab villages to normalise soon: PDMA

Meanwhile, PDMA Director General Irfan Kathia claimed that villages in Upper Punjab will return to normal within a day or two. He said that water flow at Trimmu Barrage has started decreasing by 300,000 cusecs, while Head Panjnad is still receiving 300,000 cusecs. A flood wave of 400,000 cusecs is moving towards Guddu Barrage, which will ease pressure on South Punjab.

Kathia said that currently 80,000 people are staying at 488 relief camps, while over 2.1 million people have been relocated to safe places. Around 1.95 million acres of agricultural land in Punjab have been submerged.

Water level rising at Guddu Barrage

Meanwhile, water levels continue to rise at Guddu Barrage on the Indus River, where a flood wave of over 500,000 cusecs is passing through. In the past 24 hours, water levels at Guddu Barrage rose by 50,000 cusecs. According to the control room, inflow at Guddu Barrage has reached 502,844 cusecs, while outflow has been recorded at 492,443 cusecs.

The control room has warned that a high flood situation may develop at Guddu Barrage within the next 12 hours.