LAHORE: India once again released 800,000 cusecs of water into the Chenab River without prior intimation, raising fears of a major flood at Head Marala in Punjab.
According to reports, all gates of the Salal Dam were opened by India without issuing an official notification. Currently, the Chenab is flowing normally at Head Marala, but a massive flood threat now looms again.
Irrigation officials revealed that the release from Salal Dam will send an 800,000 cusec flood wave towards Pakistan. Just a few days earlier, India had released 900,000 cusecs as well.
The situation in Punjab’s three major rivers—Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej—is already dire. Thousands of villages are submerged, hundreds of livestock have perished, and standing crops destroyed.
So far, 38 people have lost their lives in various flood-related incidents.
Following the rise in water levels in Ravi, floodwaters entered Shahdara and adjoining areas of Lahore, causing heavy financial losses.
PDMA alert
According to the PDMA spokesperson, India has issued a high-flood alert at Harike. Today, official sources confirmed a high-flood warning at the Sutlej near Harike, but no formal communication has yet been received regarding releases into the Chenab or other rivers. There has also been no official notification about Salal Dam’s spillways being opened.
In line with the Punjab CM’s instructions, civil administration and relevant departments remain on high alert.
PDMA Punjab, IRSA, and the Irrigation Department are monitoring river flows round the clock. Authorities and citizens will be alerted in advance about any major flood wave.
Emergency situation at Punjab rivers
Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said Punjab is currently facing the worst flood in its history, creating an emergency situation. The rivers Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab are already at dangerous levels. She added that the floods have so far claimed 38 precious lives due to house collapses, electrocution, and other incidents.
Aurangzeb held previous governments responsible for allowing illegal settlements along riverbanks, while noting that the current government has strictly banned deforestation. Mapping of riverbeds has also begun. The minister further stated that allocations for dam construction in Punjab have been made with the ADB, and several flood-protection projects are already underway.
Historic floods ravage Punjab as Sindh stays on high alert
Continuous heavy rainfall in various cities of Punjab over several hours has worsened the situation for flood victims as many areas have been left without electricity. High-level flooding persists in the Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej rivers, causing destruction in Jhang, Multan, Chichawatni, and Vehari.
In Lahore, heavy rain is ongoing in various areas including Ravi Bridge, The Mall, Gulberg, Davis Road, and Garhi Shahu. The intense rainfall has increased water levels on city roads. Housing societies in the Chuhang area remain submerged, raising fears of the spread of infectious diseases.
In Chiniot, Wazirabad, Gujrat, Nankana Sahib, and Narowal, the already deteriorating conditions in low-lying areas have worsened due to the rain.
After the rainfall, streams and drains in Jhelum have overflowed, and water has entered residential areas in multiple places. Children stranded on a madrasa roof were rescued by boat. Rain, both heavy and light, has also been recorded in Pakpattan, Okara, Vehari, and Multan.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has forecast continued rainfall — ranging from light to heavy — in various parts of Punjab.
A total of 1,169 localities have been affected along the Chenab River, 478 localities along the Ravi River, and 391 localities along the Sutlej River.
CHINIOT
According to local administration, 144 localities have been submerged in Chiniot, with people trapped in eight to 10 feet deep water. Evacuation to safer places is currently underway.
At least 20 localities have been under rainwater, and today’s rainfall has further increased the water levels.
JHANG
After causing destruction in Sialkot, Wazirabad, and Chiniot, the floodwaters of the Chenab River have now affected Jhang, submerging 180 villages. Standing crops on hundreds of acres of land have been destroyed. The stagnant water has caused hindrance in flow of traffic.
People trapped in the flood were evacuated to safe locations using boats. In some remote areas, women and children had to spend the night under the open sky as no rescue teams could reach there.
PMD releases new GLOF, flash floods warning
MULTAN
Floodwaters have entered the Shujaabad tehsil of Multan inundating 140 villages.
There is a risk of situation getting worse as approximately 800,000 cusecs of floodwater is passing through the Chenab River in Multan. An additional 700,000 cusecs from Head Trimmu and 90,000 cusecs from the Ravi are also expected to flow into the area.
Multan Commissioner Amir Kareem hinted that a breach could be made at Head Muhammad Wala, in case of an emergency as the structure has a capacity of one million cusecs.
GANDA SINGH WALA
Several villages around Head Ganda Singh Wala on the Sutlej River are still under water. Crops at hundreds of acres of land have been destroyed. People have also suffered significant loss of livestock.
In Bahawalnagar, some people have refused to evacuate their homes despite flood warnings.
NAROWAL AND NANKANA SAHIB
As water flow increased at Balloki Headworks on the Ravi River, all spillways of the waterworks were opened. Still 211,395 cusecs has been passing the headworks. Surrounding villages have been affected. People lost livestock and standing crops on large area destroyed. As embankments breached in Narowal and Nankana Sahib, floodwaters have started moving toward urban areas.
SCHOOL CLOSED IN PAKPATTAN AND ARIFWALA
Due to ongoing flooding, schools in Pakpattan and Arifwala will remain closed from September 1 until further notice, according to a notification issued by the Department of Education. At Arifwala, river water has reached Noora Bund, while in Pakpattan, rescue operations through boats are underway to evacuate affected people.
BAHAWALPUR AND DERA GHAZI KHAN
In Dera Ghazi Khan, floodwaters from the Indus River have submerged roads and broken pathways, making boats the only means of transportation. People are forced to use private boats and the boatmen have started charging exorbitant fares, adding to the hardships of marooned people.
Water from the Indus and Sutlej rivers has affected around half a million population and damaged 514,434 acres of agricultural land across Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur divisions. In Dera Ghazi Khan, 267,683 acres of agricultural land has gone under water due to flooding from the Indus.
CHICHAWATNI
A very high flood has struck the Ravi River near Chichawatni, posing a severe threat to local communities. According to sources, 170,000 cusecs is passing through the Ravi River, raising water levels. Floodwater has entered old residential areas such as Moza Jhangi Sial, Basti Amirabad, Moza Hashim Chakar, Moza Dobarji, and others, creating critical flood conditions.
VEHARI
The water level in the Sutlej River at Vehari continues to rise. The water has demolished several houses, and according to local authorities, the number of affected people has exceeded 100,000, with thousands still stranded in flooded areas.
DAM UPDATES
The Flood Forecasting Division has reported the current water levels at major dams:
Tarbela: 100% full — Level: 1550.00 feet
Mangla: 82% full — Level: 1224.85 feet
Khanpur: 1980.75 feet
Rawal: 1751.10 feet
Simly: 2315.20 feet
Flood status at key points:
Extremely high flood levels at:
Head Balloki
Ganda Singh Wala
High flood levels at:
Head Khanki
Qadirabad
Chiniot Bridge
Suleimanki
Moderate flood levels at:
Trimmu
Jassar
Ravi Syphon
Shahdara
SINDH AT RISK
Meanwhile, the Sindh government has revised its earlier estimates regarding possible displacements due to flooding. It is now estimated that more than 1.65 million people along the right and left banks of the Indus River are at higher risk of being affected.
Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah visited Guddu Barrage to assess the flood situation as Punjab’s overflowing waters move downstream.
