The raging flood in River Chenab has wreaked havoc across South Punjab, submerging dozens of settlements and damaging key infrastructure, including parts of the National Highway and a toll plaza near Multan.
The surging waters broke through multiple barriers, flooding vast areas and rapidly advancing toward Head Panjnad.
Several villages in Multan, Muzaffargarh, Jhang, and Khanewal districts have been submerged.
Near Shershah, the protective embankment collapsed under pressure, pushing floodwaters dangerously close to Multan city.
The Shershah flood embankment has reached alarming levels, while nearby localities around Head Muhammadwala have been devastated.
Water has reached Shershah Toll Plaza, steadily rising and inundating hundreds of thousands of acres of standing crops.
In Basti Greywala, a 200-foot-wide breach allowed floodwaters to engulf surrounding villages. In Muzaffargarh, one track of the DG Khan National Highway went under water, forcing authorities to erect temporary blockades.
At Shorkot, a medium-level flood is raging, with 260,000 cusecs passing under Sultan Bahu Bridge, inflicting widespread destruction.
In Ahmedpur Sial, a breach in the Samandwana embankment flooded several areas, while in Jhang, floodwaters have paralyzed life, leaving residents stranded without adequate relief supplies.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), additional relief goods were dispatched to Bahawalnagar and Jhang districts on Friday to strengthen ongoing rescue operations.
Meanwhile, floodwaters struck the railway bridge at Darkhana, suspending the Shorkot–Khanewal rail section for the second day.
Dozens of villages in Khanewal are underwater, while in Kabirwala, over 100,000 people have been affected. At least 17,000 acres of crops have been destroyed, and 80,000 houses have collapsed.
In Liaqatpur, floods from both the Chenab and Indus rivers have caused further devastation. Multiple settlements in Noorewala have been washed away, while water levels at Head Panjnad have surged past 310,000 cusecs.
The situation worsened after India released a massive water flow into River Sutlej, raising levels at Head Ganda Singh Wala beyond 311,000 cusecs.
This has submerged large parts of Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, and Bahawalpur. High floods have also been reported in River Ravi at Baloki and Head Sidhnai.
PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia warned that fresh monsoon rains could disrupt rescue operations in flood-hit areas. He also confirmed receiving another warning from India of “very high flood” levels, prompting a high alert for all districts along River Sutlej.
According to PDMA, 3.9 million people have been affected across Punjab, of whom 1.8 million have been evacuated to safer areas. At least 51 people have lost their lives, 4,000 villages have been submerged, and thousands have been forced to shelter on roadsides with their livestock.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has also warned of urban flooding in low-lying areas of Bhakkar, Layyah, Mianwali, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan.
It added that already affected districts in Punjab may experience fresh flooding, and all rescue agencies remain on high alert.
