The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned of “exceptionally high floods” at the Shahdara barrage on the Ravi River and at Ganda Singh Wala on the Sutlej.
According to NDMA data, Shahdara recorded a water flow of 213,440 cusecs with a falling trend, while Ganda Singh Wala registered 261,053 cusecs with a steady flow. The Ravi at Balloki also showed a steady flow, while the Chenab at Qadirabad was in “high flood” with a falling flow.
Read more: Ravi River Rises to Dangerous Level
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast fresh heavy rains across the country between August 29 and September 2 due to a new westerly weather system. Authorities have warned that the rains may cause urban flooding in major cities, including Lahore, Gujranwala, and Gujarat.
Rescue officials reported that flooding in the Sutlej caused the collapse of an embankment near Jhangra Sharqi in Bahawalpur, submerging hundreds of acres of crops and inundating nearby houses. The irrigation department also confirmed rising water levels at Head Islam in Bahawalpur, where inflows have crossed 60,000 cusecs.
Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Irfan Ali Kathia confirmed that at least 20 people have lost their lives, mostly due to drowning incidents in the Gujranwala division. He emphasized that no deaths occurred because of negligence in rescue efforts.
Read more: Big Flood Risk as Heavy Rains Hit Pakistan
Kathia added that the Punjab government will provide financial assistance of one million rupees to the families of each victim and assured that helicopters and boats are being used to carry out relief operations.
