Sindh is bracing for a potentially catastrophic ‘super flood’ due to rising Indus River waters, with a flood wave moving down from Punjab expected to impact the province soon.
Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah visited Guddu Barrage on Sunday to review the flood situation as the province braces for the aftermath of floods in Punjab as the water moves downstream.
“We are preparing for possible super flood of 0.9 million cusecs. Our priority is to protect lives, livestock and barrages. Sindh govt, PDMA, Navy and Army are fully mobilised. Evacuation plans, medical camps & boats are in place,” said CM Murad Ali Shah.
“We need to protect our embankments,” CM Shah stated. “On the right bank between Guddu and Sukkur, there are six vulnerable points. I visited one and saw the preparations, ordering the irrigation minister to act as the focal person.
“On the left bank, the most vulnerable point is near Qadirpur. I visited it today; hopefully, we will keep these embankments safe.”
“If we determine that water flow will not exceed 700,000 cusecs, we will evacuate the people in this area,” he stated. “If it reaches up to 900,000 cusecs, we estimate that 104,255 people and 17,376 families will be affected. If the flow exceeds 900,000 cusecs, then an additional 224,313 people and 37,319 families will be affected.
“We have prepared for 900,000 cusecs, which is a ‘super flood’,” he added. “Our commissioners and deputy commissioners have this data and field staff will guide them on how to perform evacuations.”
The area between Guddu and Sukkur is especially vulnerable, with officials warning of water flows reaching or exceeding 900,000 cusecs that could affect up to 224,313 people and 37,319 families.
The government is prepared for this worst-case scenario with detailed evacuation plans led by commissioners and supported by Pakistan Navy vessels, 192 PDMA boats, and hired private boats for rescue operations including livestock.
Recent official data shows floodwater flows at major barrages as follows: Guddu at 364,573 cusecs, Sukkur at 256,660 cusecs, and Kotri at 265,328 cusecs — levels currently considered low but closely monitored since Guddu can withstand up to 1.2 million cusecs, Sukkur up to 960,000, and Kotri 870,000. There are over 100 points of structural weakness along the Indus embankments at risk of breaching based on past floods in 2010 and 2015.
The flood threat spans 15 districts with approximately 1.65 million people in 1,651 villages (about 273,000 families) potentially impacted. Relief efforts include setting up over 300 camps for livestock and multiple relief camps for displaced people. Many residents prefer to stay with relatives rather than in relief camps, but evacuation efforts are underway especially in high-risk katcha (riverine) areas.
Senior Sindh officials, including CM Murad Ali Shah and Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating responses. The provincial government’s Rain and Flood Emergency Monitoring Cell is providing updates every three hours. The priority remains protecting lives and minimizing damage to homes and livestock.
The floodwaters have already started reclaiming the riverbed land in Larkana, Sukkur, and Hyderabad divisions, with evacuations ongoing. Weak points on embankments like the Torhi embankment and the Moria loop bund are of concern. Over 50 villages in Jamshoro are reported submerged, with relief camps being established in schools.
Punjab has faced historic floods affecting over 20 million people with extensive evacuations and flood damage. Floodwaters in Punjab are expected to reach Sindh by September 2-3, intensifying the urgency for preparedness and coordinated disaster response across provinces.
The Sindh government continues to emphasize the scale of the disaster and the need for public cooperation with authorities for timely evacuations and adherence to safety protocols. The national government, local agencies, and Pakistan Army are engaged in rescue and relief operations to mitigate the flood impact.