School Holiday Announced Amid High Flood Threat

Authorities have declared a school holiday across Sialkot district and in Kot Momin tehsil of Sargodha on August 27 (today) after the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued severe flood warnings for the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers.

The Sialkot deputy commissioner issued a notification stating that the step was taken to ensure the safety of students and school staff amid the worsening flood situation. Section 144 has also been imposed in the city, restricting the public from visiting rivers, canals, and water channels.

Similarly, the Kot Momin tehsil administration announced the closure of all schools today due to the looming flood threat.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government has requested army deployment to assist civil authorities in ongoing rescue and relief operations, as several districts grapple with an unprecedented flood emergency triggered by heavy rains and water releases from India.

According to the Punjab Home Department, troops will be deployed in Lahore, Faisalabad, Kasur, Sialkot, Narowal, and Okara to safeguard lives and property. A formal request has already been submitted to the Ministry of Interior.

NDMA Alerts

The NDMA has issued urgent warnings following extremely dangerous flood levels in the three rivers and urged residents in low-lying areas to evacuate immediately as water levels continue to rise beyond safe limits.

Chenab River

At Head Marala, water flow has crossed 900,000 cusecs, exceeding critical thresholds. While the barrage has a design capacity of 1.1 million cusecs, the current levels pose a severe threat to Khanqi and nearby settlements.

Ravi River

At Jassar, the Ravi’s floodwaters have already surpassed 200,000 cusecs, with projections suggesting a rise to 250,000 cusecs by morning. Authorities are on high alert between Kot Naina and Shahdara, as flow volumes approach the barrage’s maximum capacity of 275,000 cusecs. The interval from Kot Naina to Jassar is about 12 hours, raising concerns of rapid escalation.

Sutlej River

At Ganda Singh Wala, the Sutlej is experiencing extremely high flood levels of 245,000 cusecs, with further increase anticipated.

Areas at Immediate Risk

• Chenab River: Head Marala & Khanqi

• Ravi River: Shahdara, Park View, and low-lying stretches along Motorway M-2

• Sutlej River: Ganda Singh Wala and adjoining villages

The NDMA is actively monitoring the situation, supervising evacuations, and coordinating relief operations. Citizens are urged to avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from flood-affected zones, and prioritize safety.

Read More: Punjab Floods Wreak Havoc After India Releases 2 Lakh Cusecs into Ravi