Karachi Floods Kill 7, Punjab on High Alert as Sutlej Overflows

Pakistan is facing a worsening flood crisis as heavy monsoon rains continue to batter Karachi and large parts of Punjab. Rescue officials confirmed that at least seven people were swept away in Karachi’s Gadap area on Wednesday when two vehicles were caught in the strong current of the Konkar stream. Two bodies, including that of a woman, have been recovered, while search operations are underway for the others.

In Karachi, heavy rains combined with water from Thado Dam and Lath streams triggered severe flooding. The overflowing Malir and Lyari rivers inundated several residential areas, forcing hundreds of families to leave their homes. More than 350 people, including women and children, were rescued by Rescue 1122, PDMA, and Pakistan Army teams. In Malir’s Jam Goth, the under-construction Shahrah-e-Bhutto was washed away, while parts of the M-9 Motorway were submerged, causing major traffic disruptions. Authorities temporarily suspended traffic and later created an alternate route by breaking a boundary wall to ease congestion. Residents of Gadap and nearby areas complained that no timely assistance was provided by the city administration despite worsening conditions.

The situation in Punjab has also deteriorated after India released more water into the Sutlej River, creating a high flood alert downstream. At Head Panjnad, water flow surged to 530,000 cusecs, leading to extreme conditions. In Muzaffargarh, eight people drowned in floodwaters while five remain missing. Nearly 145 villages in Bhukan Pattan and 138 villages in Muzaffargarh have been inundated, displacing around 185,000 residents as embankments come under heavy pressure. In Lodhran, the collapse of a protective dyke flooded villages including Hayatpur, Muradpur, and Peepalwala. In Bahawalpur, 98 areas are under water, affecting nearly 150,000 people.

Large-scale evacuations are taking place in South Punjab. In Jalalpur Pirwala, over 235,000 people and 180,000 livestock have been moved to safety, while in Multan, 2,000 more people were rescued in the past 24 hours. Authorities have declared emergencies in Multan, Muzaffargarh, Shujaabad, Jalalpur Pirwala, Uch Sharif, and Alipur. Officials warn that if water levels at Shershah rise above 393.50 feet, embankments may be deliberately breached to prevent further damage, potentially affecting 30,000 people and 8,000 homes.

The flood emergency has caused widespread destruction across Punjab. More than 2.1 million people have been displaced, with 80,000 currently sheltered in 488 relief camps, while nearly 1.95 million acres of farmland have been submerged.

Meanwhile, water levels at Guddu Barrage on the Indus River continue to rise, with inflows crossing 500,000 cusecs. Officials warn that a high flood situation could develop there within the next 12 hours, adding further strain to Pakistan’s already critical flood emergency.