On Monday, Punjab Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb sounded the alarm, as unprecedented flooding in the rivers Chenab, Jhelum and Ravi threatened 11 districts, including Jhang, Sahiwal, Toba Tek Singh, Okara, Multan, Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, Vehari and Bahawalpur.
By late tonight, the Chenab River is expected to witness its largest historic flood of 900,000 CUSSCS. In addition, flooding water from the Ravi River is expected to merge into Chenab tonight.
Severe flooding is reported at Trimmu, Balloki, Sulemanki and Ganda Singh Wala, while the level of flood affects Khanki, Qadirabad and Shahdara.
The water level in the Chenab River has begun to rise at the head Muhammad Wala, with the current now surpassing 200,000 CUSERCS. Over the next 24 hours, a flood wave of 480,000 CUSERCS is expected to hit the head Muhammad. At the main trimmu, water discharge has reached up to 550,000 CUSERCS.
In Rajanpur, the protective dam of the village broke out due to the flood wave, and water has quickly flooded villages nearby and fishing holdings. The Jhang flood has begun to envelop all settlements in the Jawana Bangla area of Muzaffargarh. Currently, a flood current of 400,000 CUSERCS is passing between Jhang and Muzaffargarh in the Chenab River.
The Sutlej River continues to create destruction in Bahawalpur, where erosion of the river bank intensifies. Floodwaters have begun to seek out areas nearby, including Mari Qasim Shah, leaving the residents stranded. A major flood is expected to pass through the city for the next two days.
Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a warning on Monday morning about the upcoming rainfall. According to PMD, “widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected along with stormy rainfall in scattered places over the upper drainage of rivers Sutlej, Beas, Ravi and Chenab as well as in Lahore and Gujranwala Divisions in September 1st and 3rd” ”
PMD also warned of unusually high floods expected in the chenab, sutlej and ravi rivers due to releases from Indian reservoirs. The city’s flood is also expected in the divisions of Lahore, Gujranwala and Gujrat over the next 72 hours.
Help efforts
Rescue and relief operations from the Pakistani Army are ongoing in Okara, Sahiwal, Multan and other affected areas. In Sahiwal, 24 emergency camps have been established in 37 villages, while Army and Civil Administration teams have moved 9,797 people and 2,191 livestock to safe locations.
Medical camps are created at Attari and Suleimanki Head, and important supplies, including wheat, have been delivered. In Okara, 487 people and 218 livestock have moved, and in Sahiwal, 3,162 people and 4,593 livestock have moved.
In Multan, the flood loan in Basti Langrial has left the residents fighting in extreme heat, with many reporting that tents have not yet been delivered a day ago. Victims also claim that they were forced out of their homes.
The floods in Punjab have claimed 35 lives, affected over 2.3 million people and affected 2,222 villages. So far, 857,824 people have been moved with 383 emergency camps and 375 medical centers in operation.
Livestock relocation includes 551,769 animals, supported by 329 veterinary facilities.
