Flooding in Punjab has taken a critical turn, with rivers overflowing after India released additional water into the Sutlej, raising fears of extremely high flood levels.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a high alert, while the army and civil administration have been placed on standby.

In Jalalpur Pirwala, more than 60 villages were inundated after a local embankment near Khan Bela broke under the strong current of the Chenab.

Rescue operations are underway, with mosque loudspeakers urging evacuation, triggering panic in affected areas.

In Shujaabad, floodwaters continued to wreak havoc for the seventh consecutive day, while rescue teams struggled to evacuate stranded families.

A tragic incident occurred in Liaqatpur’s village Noorwala, where a rescue boat carrying 28 people capsized.

Two women lost their lives, 13 passengers were saved, and search efforts are ongoing for the remaining victims.

Floodwaters have also spread across Rajanpur’s riverine belt, while Muzaffargarh’s Rangpur area came under threat as a powerful wave from Head Trimmu entered.

In Jhang, a second wave from the Chenab inundated over 300 villages and destroyed nearly 281,000 acres of standing crops.

The devastation extended to Bahawalpur and Depalpur, where Sutlej floods damaged settlements and farmland, while in Sheikhupura’s Sharaqpur Sharif, overflowing Ravi waters wiped out standing crops.

Dozens of villages in Shorkot and Liaqatpur were also submerged.

Water levels remain dangerously high, with 609,000 cusecs recorded at Head Panjnad and 547,000 cusecs at Head Trimmu.

Severe flooding in Chenab and Sutlej rivers

A very high-level flood existed at the Head Trimmu, where the water level reached 547,000 cusecs.

In the Sutlej River, the water flow at Ganda Singh Wala reached 319,000 cusecs, while at Suleimanki, it stood at 135,000 cusecs.

Flood levels in both the Chenab and Sutlej rivers have reached extremely high levels, officials said.

With floodwaters nearing the limits of remaining protective embankments, residents in affected areas, particularly near the Head Muhammad Wala, faced severe risks.

Panicked residents scrambled for safety, with many seeking refuge on rooftops as floodwaters entered their homes, while a flood surge is expected to reach Multan today (Monday).

India shares flood alerts with Pakistan

The Indian High Commission in Islamabad earlier provided Pakistan with crucial information regarding the escalating flood situation.

In response, the PDMA issued an alert, warning of very high flood levels expected in the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers.

The PDMA also anticipated a surge in the Sutlej’s flow, particularly downstream of Harike and Ferozepur units, and reminded provincial civil and military agencies to remain on high alert and ensure protection of lives and property.

Crops destroyed across the province

According to officials, the water level continued to rise, with emergency orders in effect across various districts.

In the Ravi River, water levels are also rising. Flows at the Head Balloki have reached 139,000 cusecs, and Head Sidhnai recorded 123,000 cusecs.

In Jhang, the second wave of flooding in the Chenab River has submerged over 300 villages, destroying crops on approximately 281,000 acres.

In Azmatpur, Muzaffargarh, another embankment breach has forced the evacuation of thousands of residents.

In Bahawalpur, the Sutlej River was experiencing high flood levels, with water reaching the northern bypass and inundating local settlements.

The river flow was recorded at 319,000 cusecs, with a high flood at Head Sulaimanki and a moderate flood at Head Islam.

A strong flood wave from the Head Trimmu area entered Rangpur, a part of the Muzaffargarh district, prompting large-scale evacuations, with many residents relocating to relief camps.

Authorities breached a protective embankment near Bahumanaga to protect Head Qadirabad, but the diversion disrupted access routes from Mandi Bahauddin toward Hafizabad and Gujranwala.

The Sutlej River in Depalpur caused widespread devastation, with hundreds of acres of standing crops destroyed.

The water inflow has broken a 27-year flood record, prompting the district administration to issue a high-alert advisory for the Attari area.

After wreaking havoc across Punjab, floodwaters were now moving toward Sindh province.

At Guddu Barrage, a moderate flood has been recorded, with water flow exceeding 400,000 cusecs.

CM Maryam Nawaz monitoring situation

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz continued monitoring the flood situation late into the night, receiving real-time updates on the rescue operations in Multan and other affected areas.

She virtually oversaw evacuation efforts in Jalalpur Pirwala, during which around 2,000 people had been moved to safety.

The chief minister said thermal imaging drones were being deployed to support rapid response and prevent loss of life, while improving monitoring of on-ground rescue activities.