Death toll rises to 28 as floods wreak havoc in parts of Punjab, more deluge feared in Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab

Lahore (Web Desk): At least 28 people have tragically lost their lives due to incidents triggered by severe flooding.

According to Director General of the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Irfan Ali Kathia Gujranwala has reported the highest number of fatalities, however, he said that no casualties have occurred during evacuation operations, and no one has been stranded in those efforts.

The DG PDMPA also confirmed that the families of the deceased will each receive financial compensation amounting to Rs1 million.

Following directives issued by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, steps are also being taken to ensure the safety of livestock in affected areas.

So far, a total of 317,400 animals have been moved to secure locations, and fodder supply arrangements are underway. The DG noted that helicopters and boats have been deployed wherever necessary to relocate people to safer zones.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government has initiated one of the most extensive evacuation operations in its recent history, as rising floodwaters have impacted more than 1.46 million residents across the province.

The Chenab River is expected to reach alarming levels at Head Trimmu. Additionally, extreme flooding in the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers has led to the deaths of 17 people.

The current flood situation is being described as the most devastating the province has experienced in the past 40 years, inundating hundreds of villages and destroying crucial grain crops.

The flooding has been intensified by relentless monsoon rains and the release of surplus water from Indian dams, which has caused the three rivers entering Punjab to overflow.

Authorities were compelled to breach riverbanks in several areas to manage the water levels, resulting in flooding across more than 1,400 villages. Officials have warned that the Chenab River system could see water flow between 700,000 and 800,000 cusecs over the next two days, posing a serious risk of large-scale damage.

The evacuation drive extends across multiple districts and hundreds of towns, including Jhang, Shorkot, Khanewal, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Shujaabad, Jalalpur Pirwala, and Alipur. As of midnight Friday, water flow at Trimmu near Jhang was recorded at 117,534 cusecs, with an upward trend, according to the Flood Forecasting Division.

Upstream areas were showing a declining pattern. At Marala Headworks in Sialkot, water flow has receded to 106,496 cusecs, placing it in the low flood category, while both Khanki and Qadirabad headworks were registering 305,436 cusecs.

Meanwhile, the Ravi River has stabilized at Jassar near Narowal at 95,580 cusecs, but Shahdara remains in an "exceptionally high flood" state with an outflow of 219,770 cusecs, though it has leveled off. Head Balloki, located near Pattoki, is currently categorized under "high flood" with water flow at 114,110 cusecs and still rising.

Further downstream, Head Sidhnai near Abdul Hakeem also shows an increasing trend, with inflow measured at 25,443 cusecs and outflow at 10,093 cusecs.

On the Sutlej River, Ganda Singh Wala near Kasur is experiencing an "exceptionally high flood" at 261,053 cusecs. Sulemanki near Bahawalnagar is in a "medium flood" condition with 113,124 cusecs, while Head Islam is under "low flood" with a reading of 52,706 cusecs.

The Indus River at Tarbela Dam continues to maintain a normal flow, releasing 155,400 cusecs downstream.

Data compiled by the PDMA shows that over 1.46 million individuals across 1,692 mouzas have been affected due to severe flooding in the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers. The death toll from these events has reached 20.

More than 265,000 people have been evacuated; 1,372 of them are currently staying in 355 relief camps, and 6,656 have received medical treatment. Approximately 90,348 people and 154,980 animals have been transported to safer places.

Due to flooding in the Chenab River, around one million people have already been relocated to safer areas. Some 73,000 animals have also been rescued, and 72 veterinary camps have been established in the flood-affected districts.

In Ravi River’s case, approximately 80 villages have been submerged, with 75 in Narowal, four in Sheikhupura, and one in Nankana Sahib. Nearly 11,000 individuals have been evacuated from these areas, and 4,500 animals have been moved to secure spots. A total of 52 veterinary centers are operating in these regions.

For the Sutlej River, a total of 361 villages have been inundated. These include 72 in Kasur, 86 in Okara, 24 in Pakpattan, 27 in Multan, 23 in Vehari, 104 in Bahawalnagar, and 25 in Bahawalpur.

Around 127,000 people have been relocated, and approximately 70,000 animals have been shifted to safety. In response, 90 veterinary centers have been activated in the affected zones.

Additionally, many areas across Punjab are expected to receive rainfall today, especially in the northeastern parts of the province, according to DG PDMA Irfan Ali Kathia.

Addressing the media, he stated that heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is likely in Gujrat, Gujranwala, and Lahore, and warned of potential urban flooding in these areas. He further mentioned that downpours are also anticipated in the hilly torrents of Koh-i-Sulaiman. District authorities have been instructed to make necessary preparations in light of the forecast.

Meanwhile, floodwaters from the Ravi River have inundated several localities in Lahore following fresh rainfall. Rescue operations are ongoing, as confirmed by Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmed.

Among the affected areas are Shafiqabad, Farrakhabad, and Tallat Park near the Shahdara bridge, along with Theme Park and Park View. Rescue teams have successfully moved 72 people to safety in Farrakhabad, 40 individuals from Manga Mandi, and seven from the Theme Park vicinity. The spokesperson urged citizens to call the Rescue 1122 helpline if they require emergency evacuation or assistance.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has appealed to the people of Punjab, particularly those living in flood-prone areas, to fully cooperate with the administration and immediately move to safer locations.

In a statement, she urged citizens to extend maximum cooperation to the district administration and rescue agencies.

Maryam Nawaz assured the public that losses to homes, crops and livestock are being carefully assessed and the government is committed to providing fair compensation.