Many districts have been submerged in Punjab after Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers swelled to dangerous levels due to heavy rains and release of water by India into Pakistan, officials said on Wednesday.

Due to an exceptionally high flood in the Chenab River, a protective embankment at Qadirabad has been deliberately breached to manage water pressure.

According to the NDMA, the hydraulic structures at headworks are at risk of damage as the main rivers in Punjab faced “exceptionally high” floods.

More than 50 villages near Ganda Singhwala have been submerged due to the rapid rise in the water level in the Ravi River, prompting the relocation of people from the affected areas.

In Narowal, rainwater from Baeen Nullah has entered residential areas, where 126 people were rescued.

Similarly, a bridge was washed away in Zafarwal due to the strong current.

Dozens of settlements along the riverbank have been flooded, thousands of acres of crops destroyed, and an emergency has been imposed in various districts.

According to the Meteorological Department and PDMA, the Sutlej River is at a high level of flood at Ganda Singhwala, while a medium level of flood is passing through Head Sulemanki.

According to the PDMA, the water inflow at the Qadirabad Headworks has reached 935,000 cusecs. A deliberate breach has been made in the protective embankment as a precautionary emergency measure.

According to an official, the current capacity of Qadirabad Headworks is 800,000 cusecs. The breach is expected to cause flooding in parts of Mandi Bahauddin.

Near Kartarpur, a protective embankment of the Ravi River collapsed, allowing floodwaters to enter the premises of Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib.

Accumulation of water at the Gurdwara complex is causing significant difficulties for pilgrims in performing religious rites.

According to reports, 4.4 feet of water is standing inside the compound. Rescue teams from relevant departments are currently conducting operations in the area.

Army called in to help in rescue efforts

To manage the flood situation and protect human lives, the army has been called in to assist the civil administration in seven districts of Punjab – Lahore, Okara, Kasur, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Sargodha, and Narowal.

The district administrations in these districts had requested the immediate deployment of the army.

Consequently, the Punjab Home Department sent a letter to the Federal Ministry of Interior for the deployment of troops, which will now be implemented.