Islamabad/Lahore:
Authorities placed on Tuesday disaster management institutions and related agencies on “High Alert” warning of “unusually high” flood risks across Punjab following a mixture of merciless monsoon rain, ice melting and India’s release of water from several upstream dams.
Provincial and federal authorities said nearly 190,000 people have already been evacuated, with the military helping with rescue operations across dozens of flooded villages. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned that the next 48 to 72 hours will be critical as heavy rain continues and the DAM emissions are accelerating.
The latest crisis comes as the chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers – eastern side elves of the Indus basin – rose to dangerous levels and threatened Punjab’s agricultural heart, which delivers a large proportion of the country’s food.
NDMA chairman LT Gen Inam Haider told journalists in Islamabad that a large-scale evacuation drive was underway in collaboration with Punjab’s PDMA and Rescue 1122. “Almost 190,000 people have been moved to safer areas from high risk zones along river Sutlej,” he said.
“All relevant departments remain on high alarm,” he added. He warned that the ongoing eighth magic form in the Monsun season posed special dangers, as unusually heavy rain was expected for districts that typically remained dry.
“Excessive rain is expected in Sialkot, Narowal, Kasur and adjacent areas over the next two to three days. This increases the risk of urban areas and serious damage to the infrastructure,” he added. He urged the public to remain vigilant, avoid low -lying areas, and follow strictly official advisers and warnings.
According to the Punjab Irrigation Department, the influx of the Marala headworks at Chenab over 400,000 CUSSCS increased with forecasts suggesting that levels could rise to 600,000 CUSERCS by Tuesday night – a “severe flood stage. Downstream, medium -sized to high flood levels were reported by KHANKI and QADIRABAD.
The Ravi River also remains under pressure, with flooding water from side elves, including Bein, Basantar and DEK, pushing levels to 190,000 CUSSCS at KOT NAINA, is expected to climb beyond 240,000 CUSSCS. A flood wave was expected to hit Jassar within hours.
In the Sutlej basin, meanwhile, from Pong and Bhakra dams in India’s northern Himachal Pradesh state, the level of Ganda Singh Wala raised to nearly 189,000 CUSSCS, which is expected to climb over 220,000 CUSSCS.
Pong Dam has already reached its full 1,390 feet reservoir, while Bhakra Dam is at 1,671 feet, only 9 meters less than its maximum. Bhakra Beas Management Board has warned that if the levels cross the puff mark, outflows could jump over 80,000 CUSERCS, which intensifies flooding risk downstream.
PDMA confirmed that all gates to India’s Thein [Ranjit Sagar] Dam had been opened and released 77,000 CUSERCS in Ravi. Pakistani officials expressed concern that water releases from India without adequate coordination could aggravate the crisis.
Punjab’s irrigation minister Kazim Raza Pirzada said climate change was worsening the crisis. “International areas receive heavier and more intense rainfall than before. Our eastern rivers are overwhelmed by both rainfall and glown melting,” he told journalists.
Evacuation operations continued through Tuesday in low -lying districts. Sialkot -vice Commissioner Saba Asghar Ali, after visiting Pasrur City near the Indian border, said 16 villages at the moment were at risk, and “Evacuation of about 5,000 people and 1,450 livestock is secured.”
Army units help move stranded residents, while local administrations mobilize shelters and food supplies. There were events for food, medicine and sanitation in relief, Ali said. NDMA said federal stocks of tents, rations and medications had been sent to Punjab.
Officials said that deaths had not yet been reported in the Sutlej-affected districts due to timely evacuation. However, the total toll from this year’s monsoon over Pakistan has reached 802 fatalities, almost half of them alone in August.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was chairman of an emergency meeting and instructed authorities to accelerate rescue and relief operations. “Evacuation must be accelerated, food and medical treatment provided without delay, and tents delivered to all displaced families,” ordered the Prime Minister.
He also instructed NDMA to maintain close coordination with Punjab’s PDMA and instructed the Ministry of Power and Communication to restore disturbed services in flood areas, according to a distribution edition issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned of widespread rain, wind and thunderstorms Wednesday (today) over the northeast Punjab and Kashmir with isolated showers in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Central Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh.
Heavy Falls could trigger urban floods in Lahore, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Gujrat and Jhelum, while landslides can block roads in hilly areas of Rawalakot, Poonch, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur, PMD warned.
Over the past 24 hours, Sialkot registered 228 mm of rain, Lahore up to 61 mm and Narowal 107 mm. Officials warned further rainfall, pairs of water released by India would aggravate already saturated river systems.
With rivers rising from both natural and geopolitical pressure, the NDMA chairman NDMA summarized, and said, “The flood situation is serious. The next 48 to 72 hours will be critical of Punjab. We urge the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with the authorities.”
LT Gen Haider noted that all tehsils in vulnerable areas had been placed on duty with federal resources that support provincial and district authorities. When the Monsun stave falls, he said, displaced families would be able to return home.
(With input from agencies)
