A high flood alert has been issued in Punjab after India released large volumes of water from the Thein Dam into the Ravi River. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has warned that dangerous water levels are expected in the next 48 hours.
According to PDMA, over 210,000 cusecs of water are entering Pakistan through Kot Nainan, with inflows likely to rise further. The flood is expected to pass through Jassar, Shahdara, and Head Balloki, creating serious risks for communities living near the Ravi basin.
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The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) also confirmed that the Indian dam has opened its spillways, releasing 77,000 cusecs, while water from Pong and Bhakra dams is raising the Sutlej River flow. At Ganda Singhwala, the Sutlej has already crossed 188,000 cusecs and could reach 220,000 cusecs within hours.
The Chenab River is also under pressure, with water at Head Marala exceeding 400,000 cusecs and possibly surging to 600,000 cusecs. District administrations in Lahore, Gujranwala, Multan, Sahiwal, and Faisalabad have been told to begin immediate evacuations.
Rescue 1122 has been placed on high alert in Sialkot, with boats and emergency posts set up across flood-prone areas. In Kasur, more than 30 villages have already been evacuated as the Sutlej submerged farmland and homes. Similar flooding has hit Minchinabad, Burewala, Chiniot, Hafizabad, and Bahawalpur, where crops and houses have been destroyed.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered NDMA and Punjab authorities to speed up rescue work, evacuate families to safe areas, and ensure urgent supply of food, tents, and medicines. The public has been advised to avoid rivers, drains, and low-lying areas and to follow official alerts through the NDMA Disaster Alert app.
So far, more than 24,000 people have been shifted to safe locations, but officials warn the situation could worsen if heavy monsoon rains continue.
