As the Ravi and Sutlej rivers continued to overflow in Punjab, the Mai Safoora embankment was deliberately breached to protect Sidhnai headworks in Khanewal, endangering 30 villages in Kabirwala and 12 villages in Pir Mahal.

Due to the flood surge in the Sutlej River, three embankments in Lodhran and Bahawalpur have also collapsed.

In the Abdul Hakeem area of Kabirwala tehsil, Khanewal, the water level in the Ravi River at the Sidhnai headworks was continuously increasing.

The Sidhnai headworks has a water discharge capacity of 150,000 cusecs, while at present, more than its capacity is being discharged.

Sutlej, Ravi level rises

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab on Wednesday issued a fresh alert due to a further increase in the flow of the Sutlej and Chenab rivers.

The alert came after the Indian High Commission informed authorities in Pakistan about the flood in the Sutlej River.

Meanwhile, the water flow at the Marala headworks crossed the 538,000 cusecs, the PDMA said, adding that there is a high-level flood situation in the Harike area and Manawar Tawi river in India.

Rains are expected in various districts of Punjab until September 5, which may increase the intensity of floods in rivers, the PDMA said.

Major flood reaches Multan

In Vehari, over 65,000 people have been affected by the flooding, while 30 villages in Tandlianwala have been inundated.

A major wave from the Chenab River has entered Multan, raising the water level by 4 feet at the Akbar embankment.

Explosives have been planted at the Muhammad Wala headworks to create a controlled breach, as the flood wave is expected to reach Panjnad by September 5.

Due to the increasing pressure of water, Muhammad Wala headworks Road has been closed to traffic, while three families in Basti Noor Muhammad have yet to be evacuated.

Before reaching Multan, the flood wreaked havoc in Chiniot and Jhang, submerging 150 villages in Chiniot and 261 in Jhang.

In Muzaffargarh, more than 24 villages near Rangpur have gone submerged, and due to the looming threat to Rangpur city, thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate.