Bahawalnagar:
Water released in the Sutlej River by India became disastrous for Bahawalnagar on Sunday and claimed two lives, immersed thousands of hectares of crops and threatened in nearby populations.
The wave has begun to enter villages, violate protective dams and cut off access to settlements near Baba Farid Bridge and Bhukan Patan. According to Rescue 1122, 928 people and hundreds of livestock have moved to safer areas.
Villagers reported that standing crops – including cotton, paddy, maize, vegetables and feed – were destroyed by the flood water, leaving the farmers destroyed when their livelihood was washed away.
High flood is expected to continue at Ganda Singh Wala over the next 48 hours, with the water level rising over 21 feet and the current exceeds 130,000 CUSSCS, increasing the risk of overflow in the ravi and chenab rivers.
Authorities warn that ongoing torrent rain and more weather systems could further aggravate the situation. Officials said that agreements on rescue and relief had been made to the people affected. However, villagers complain about lack of facilities.
“Our children cry from hunger; no help has reached us. Cattle are dying and there is not even enough food at home. Administration is limited to visits and empty promises,” Kashif, a local resident told The Express Pakinomist
Another resident Ismail also had the similar complaint. “The district government has completely failed. Help camps are found only on paper; in reality, they save the affected their lives through self -help,” he said.
Floods are also reported due to water released from India into the Tawi River, a side river from the Chenab River that affects downstream areas, including Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Chiniot and Jhang.
Overflow from Nullah Dek in Zafarwal has flooded villages that immerse thousands of hectares of intermediate crops and encourage urgent evacuations. In the Sialkot, the Chenab River experiences medium flooding conditions with maximum discharge of approx. 1,100,000 CUSERCS at Head Marala.
The Tawi River is in low flood at Surkhpur Bridge, while Nullah they flowed over at Kangra. The Ravi River remains at low flood levels, and side elves as Basantar still flow normally.
The Flood Forecast Division (FFD) and Federal Flood Commission (FFC) have warned that the rivers Chenab and Indus are likely to reach high flood levels within 24 hours, while Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala will continue at high levels for several days, depending on reservoirudes from India.
Medium to high streams are expected in nullahs by Ravi and Chenab over the next 48 hours, with flooding of flash, expected in Dera Ghazi Khan and northeast Balochistan. Urban flood is expected in Lahore, Gujranwala and Rawalpindi.
Widespread torrential rain is expected in the upper drainage of Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum rivers as well as northern and northeastern Punjab from 25 to 27 August. Moderate to heavy rainfall is also expected in the upper drainage of kabul and the Indus rivers, which probably causes significant rivers in the river current over the next 48 hours.
Since the start of the monsoon, NDMA reports that 785 people have died over Pakistan. Authorities emphasize that the protection of life and property remains the highest priority, even as residents continue to fight for the double threats of rising waters and inadequate relief measures.
(With input from app)
