Punjab floods update: 1,769 villages submerged, 1.4m affected, 28 deaths

Punjab is facing a severe flood situation as water levels in major rivers continue to rise. After India released water, the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers have overflowed, forcing thousands of people to move to safer areas.

At Ganda Singh Wala in the Sutlej River, extremely high flood levels are being recorded, and the administration has announced the evacuation of nearby villages. According to the Flood Forecasting Division in Lahore, the water flow in the Sutlej has decreased from 390,000 cusecs to around 303,828 cusecs, but the danger still remains at Head Sulemanki and Head Islam.

Meanwhile, the Ravi River at Head Balloki has reached a dangerous level of 192,545 cusecs, with water levels still rising. At Head Sidhnai, the river is also swelling, though water levels at Shahdara and Jassar have slightly reduced. In the Chenab River, the flow at Head Panjnad is also increasing.

Director General PDMA Punjab, Irfan Ali Kathia, said that the water coming from a broken dam in India has moved towards Kasur. He noted that the Sutlej River is witnessing its highest water level since 1955, making it a huge challenge to protect Kasur city.

He further added that Lahore is safe for now, but the rising Ravi River could cause serious problems in the next 24 to 48 hours for districts including Okara, Sahiwal, and Toba Tek Singh.

According to PDMA, 28 people have lost their lives in Punjab due to the floods so far. However, timely rescue operations by authorities have helped prevent a larger loss of life.

Read More: Massive flood surge expected in Multan by evening, over 300,000 displaced