Riverine floods in Punjab claim at least 25 lives

Riverine flooding in Punjab has claimed at least 25 lives as devastating floods hit the province due to unusually heavy monsoon rains and upstream water discharge by India in the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers.

In Sialkot district, five members of a family lost their lives in Sambarial.

The floods also claimed 15 lives in Gujranwala division, four in Gujrat, three in Narowal, and two in Hafizabad district.

The flooding has wreaked havoc across several districts, submerging hundreds of villages in Kasur, Narowal, and Pindi Bhattian, leaving thousands homeless.

Raging waters swept away hundreds of cattle and destroyed thousands of acres of crops. In Bahawalnagar, several houses were submerged under floodwater.

Floodwater from the Chenab River entered dozens of villages in Chiniot and Wazirabad.

According to the Flood Forecasting Division, the River Ravi at Shahdara, Punjab has reached a dangerous level with a flow of around 145,000 cusecs, while at Jassar it recorded 152,000 cusecs.

The Lahore Commissioner stated that the peak flow has now passed, and the water level is expected to recede, adding that the city remains safe and under control.

In the River Chenab, extremely high floods were reported at Khanki and Qadirabad barrages, with water flows reaching 859,000 and 996,000 cusecs, respectively.

At Head Marala, the flow is around 191,000 cusecs.

Authorities have warned nearby areas to remain vigilant as the situation remains critical.

The River Sutlej is also in high flood at multiple points.

At Ganda Singh Wala, the inflow is around 261,000 cusecs, while at Head Sulemanki it is 109,000 cusecs.

In Chishtian, six protective embankments have broken due to strong currents, flooding more than 300 villages and destroying crops over 7,000 acres.

Local farmers have built an eight-kilometre-long embankment to protect homes, but officials warn that if it fails, up to 20,000 houses could be at risk.

In Bahawalnagar, the situation has worsened with over 105 villages affected and around 150,000 people hit by the floods.

Nearly 90,000 residents have been forced to leave their homes, while many areas remain cut off.

Raging waters also damaged temporary dykes, washing away houses and standing crops.

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