The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Irfan Ali Kathia has issued a severe flood warning for Punjab and other regions of Pakistan following a flood alert issued by the Indian High Commission.
The warning highlights dangerous water levels and flash floods in multiple rivers, notably the River Tawi, Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab. The River Tawi is at risk of high flood levels, and water flow at Marala Headworks surged by 60,000 cusecs within an hour.
The Sutlej River is already experiencing exceptionally high floods, affecting areas such as Mailsi, Bahawalnagar, and Bahawalpur, with water discharge at Head Sulemanki exceeding 150,000 cusecs.
The PDMA emphasized that the next 24 hours are critical for the safety of the Mai Safura embankment, with precautionary measures and village evacuations underway to prevent disaster.
At least 22 villages near Safoora are being evacuated due to the flood threat. Additionally, floodwaters from the Ravi and Chenab rivers are expected to reach Head Muhammad soon, where further decisions will be made based on water levels.
The floods have already caused considerable damage, with some embankments breached to protect urban areas, and widespread evacuations and relief efforts are ongoing.
Heavy rains and persistent monsoon spells continue to exacerbate the situation, with inflows from India significantly impacting the water volume in these rivers. Water releases from Indian reservoirs have caused dangerously high inflows, with Marala seeing 175,000 cusecs and other points registering figures in the hundreds of thousands of cusecs.
The situation demands urgent attention as millions of people in flood-prone and adjacent districts face increasing risks of devastation, displacement, and loss of life.