The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Wednesday announced that a high level flood situation is persisting for south Punjab, particularly in the Sutlej River, as India has released additional water.
The PDMA said all barrages in south Punjab on the Sutlej, Chenab and Ravi rivers are flowing at extremely dangerous levels. The flows have already submerged large swathes of low-lying areas and pose significant threats to urban centers, including Multan, Jalalpur and Rahim Yar Khan.
Among the worst affected areas is Jalalpur Pirwala, which is facing renewed pressure due to the rise in levels of the Sutlej, endangering embankments.
According to the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD), the water flow at Ganda Singh Wala headworks on the Sutlej River is at “very high flood,” while the River Chenab is in “exceptionally high flood level” at Panjnad and “low flood level” at Trimmu. The River Ravi at Sidhnai is in “high flood level” while it is at “low flood level” at Balloki. The River Indus at Guddu and Sukkur is in “medium flood level” while the one at Kotri is in “low flood level.” River Indus at Guddu, said the FFD on Thursday morning, is expected to reach “very high flood level” during the next 48 hours, as is Sukkur.
Authorities at Sukkur Barrage have said they are monitoring the situation closely as the waters approach it. Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabil Javaid said over 4,400 villages have been affected due to flooding in the Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab rivers, impacting more than 4.2 million people. Of the affected population, 2.19 million have been evacuated to safety, with the government establishing 404 relief and 488 medical camps. The provincial government has also established 421 veterinary camps and 1.581 million animals have been shifted to safe locations.