Chenab, Jhelum swollen to extremely high flood levels

Floods in Ravi and Ravi Rivers in Chenab, Sutlej and Ravi have destroyed nearly 1,400 villages over Punjab and displaces more than 1.2 million people.

Along Chenab, 991 villages and 769,281 people have been affected, while Ravi River’s Bank Burst has affected 80 villages and 74,775 inhabitants, and Sutlej has flooded 361 villages and displaced 392,768 people.

Along with human evacuations, more than 148,000 livestock has been moved to safer areas, with 234 animal treatment camps set up to provide medical support. More than 210,000 people have been moved to safer places, including 25,000 accommodation in Rescuse camps, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) from Thursday.

The rivers Chenab and Jhelum have risen to extremely high and very high flood levels and flood vulnerable districts, respectively, said Provincial Disaster Management Authority’s (PDMA) Lahore Flood Prognose Division (FFD).

The Chenab River experiences extremely high flood levels at the head Khanki, Qadirabad and downstream Marala.

At Khanki, the river is in an extremely high flooding situation with currents reaching 859,000 CUSCS. Similarly, at the head Qadirabad, the discharge has risen to 996,000 CUSERCs – nearly 200,000 CUSERCs over its design capacity, also categorized as an extremely high level of flood.

Understanding of flood levels

According to FFD, flood levels are categorized in five stages:

• A “low flood level” is where river flows are just above normal and generally contained in the banks.
• A “medium flood” indicates a stronger increase in water and poses risks to low -lying villages and crops near river banks.
• When a “high flood” is declared, the situation becomes dangerous as water can flood or put serious pressure on dams.
• It points out that a “very high flood signals” is a critical phase where large -scale flood is expected.
• The most serious category is an extremely high flood, where river discharges exceed the safe design boundaries for barriers and dams.

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Chenab River

Due to the Chenab River swelling, more than 50 villages in Sambrial have been immersed, while the death toll from drowning has risen to at least eight. The extremely high flood wave in the river is expected to reach Muzaffargarh by Friday. Residents are increasingly concerned because of the poor condition of protective dams, with cracks reported in ranking, Muradabad, Bhattianwali Basti, Thatta Sialan and Sankhi.

Ravi River

Moroever, Water Stream in the Ravi River continues to rise and reaches 189,000 CUSSCS in Shahdara and is expected to hit 200,000 CUSSCS in the coming hours. Flooding water has risen across the river banks and wasted into nearby settlements around Shahdara. Mosques in the area have announced evacuation calls as the water level rises. The district administration has cleared 22 villages over five tehsils in Lahore.

According to Punjab PDMA DG Irfan Ali Kathia, at Jassar, Ravi River has reached extremely high levels of flood with streams of 139,000 CUSSCS, Express news reported. At Balloki headwork, currents of 93,000 CUSERCS are marking a flood at the medium-sized level.

In the Shakargarh district, hundreds of hectares of agricultural land have been immersed, dozens of houses have collapsed, and at least three people have lost their lives.

At Ganda Singh Wala, the Sutlej River experiences an extremely high and dangerous flood with water flows registered at 261,000 CUSSCS. On the head Sulemanki has reached 109,000 CUSERCS, causing a flood at the medium -sized level.

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In Vehari, the protective dams in Lakha Sildira and Jatiera are collapsed, allowing flood water to enter Lakha Sildira and Jatiera villages while cutting off the road access to more than 40 settlement.

The district authorities said that over 50,000 people have been affected in Vehari alone, with more than 12,000 switched to safer places and tent settlements created in Farooqabad, Sahuka and Rakh Jamlera.

In Bahawalnagar, several temporary protective dives have also collapsed due to the strong flow of flooding water.

Meanwhile, the Indus River remains relatively calm in Punjab, with low flood levels reported in Rajanpur, although officials warn that a high flood wave is expected to reach Kot Mithan within three to four days. Police and District Administration has begun to move residents from Katcha areas with emergency camps established and rescue teams deployed. In Sindh, Indus remains at Taunsa, Guddu, Sukkur, Kotri and Islam major works at low flood levels.

According to Pakistan Meteorological Department’s (PMD) latest alarm, which was issued today, the next 12 to 48 hours remain critical, with forecasts for further heavy rain in Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Murree, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

PM emphasizes the need to improve water storage capacity

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for collective efforts to tackle the recurring challenge for natural disasters, especially flooding, in the coming years.

Chairman of a briefing in Narowal about the destruction caused by recent floods, PM has emphasized the need to improve water storage capacity to mitigate flash floods. He said Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand dams can act as key projects, adding that water reservoirs could also be developed in Chiniot.

PM Shehbaz said both federal and provincial governments have the capacity to generate resources and find solutions to the crisis. He emphasized that together with the national and provincial disaster control authorities, all allied departments must demonstrate readiness to tackle natural accidents.

The term grief over the loss of life and property, prime minister premiered the armed forces to work closely with the civil administration of rescue and relief operations.

Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik briefed the meeting on the scale of damage and noted that this year’s monsoon had been more intense and long -lasting than in previous years, with high flood water recorded in Chenab, Sutlej and Ravi Rivers.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Shehbaz arrived at Lahore, where Punjab chief minister Maryam Nawaz welcomed him.

Cm Maryam visits flooding areas

Punjab Minister Maryam Nawaz inspected the flood situation in Shahdara while traveling by boat where officials informed her of recent developments.

When she spoke to the apartment, she said Punjab was facing an emergency after “unprecedented rain and India’s release of water after its dams were filled.”

She praised the efforts of the administration and noted that Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Rescue Teams and the Health Department had worked terribly.

“Had there been no readiness, the damage would have been far greater. Such a flood has happened after 38 years. Each life is precious and people have been moved to safe places,” she added.

“By the grace of Allah, we were saved from massive destruction, though I deeply regret the losses that have still happened.”

Public advice

Punjab PDMA -Nut -of -Nut Aid Commissioner Nabeel Javed has ordered Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners to remain in the field, which emphasizes that PDMA ensures continuous coordination throughout the province.

He said evacuations from flooded areas must be performed as soon as possible, as the protection of life and property remains the highest priority and responsibility. All relevant rescue and relief institutions have been placed with a high alarm with no room for negligence.