Punjab Flooding Worsens as Monsoon Rains Continue

Punjab flooding has entered a dangerous phase as relentless monsoon rains push rivers to overflow, submerging villages and damaging farmland across the province. Rescue operations are ongoing, while authorities warn that heavy downpours and flash floods may intensify in the coming days.

Seventh Monsoon Spell Hits Punjab

According to the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), this is the seventh spell of monsoon rains in the province. Officials said the rains will continue until August 23. They cautioned that heavy showers and cloudbursts remain likely in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Jhelum, Chakwal, and Attock.

Major cities including Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot, and Multan also face the risk of urban flooding. The PDMA has urged residents to remain cautious and follow official advisories.

Sutlej River Surges

In Kasur, the Sutlej River has risen sharply, flooding villages and farmlands. At the Ganda Singh Wala headworks, water discharge reached 75,000 cusecs. Officials warned that additional water releases from India’s Harike Headworks could worsen the crisis.

The floods have destroyed standing crops and damaged hundreds of acres of agricultural land. Families in low-lying areas were forced to evacuate. Rescue 1122 teams deployed boats to move stranded people, while relief camps provide food, shelter, and livestock fodder.

Breaches in Embankments

In Bahawalnagar, breaches in protective embankments allowed water to spread into villages. The local administration imposed Section 144 to restrict public movement near riverbanks.

Similar challenges appeared in Chiniot, where the Chenab River reached low flood levels, and in Kundian, where the Indus River is flowing at a medium flood stage.

Read: Pakistan floods kill 337 as residents blame officials for lack of warning

Dek Nullah Swells in Narowal

Narowal’s Zafarwal tehsil faced a surge as the Dek Nullah swelled with 22,000 cusecs of water. The flood destroyed homes and inundated nearby villages. Relief camps were set up, and evacuation alerts were issued for at-risk communities.

In Chishtian, India’s additional water release into the Sutlej River has created more threats. Farmers warned that their sugarcane and cotton fields are already damaged and further flooding could cause massive economic losses.

Warnings Across Pakistan

The Pakistan Meteorological Department issued a red alert, warning of heavy rains and possible flash floods across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pothohar, Dera Ghazi Khan, and northeastern Balochistan.

Urban flooding remains a key concern for Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. Officials also warned of landslides in Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Strong winds and lightning could damage weak structures, including mud houses and power poles.

Government Response

At a meeting led by Provincial Disaster Management Committee head Khawaja Salman Rafique, officials ordered continuous monitoring of river flows. Section 144 will remain enforced along vulnerable riverbanks.

Authorities appealed to the public to follow evacuation orders, avoid unnecessary travel, and remain alert to weather updates.

Impact on Tourism

The Punjab Tourism Department issued an advisory to protect travelers during the ongoing rains. Roads and bridges in tourist regions collapsed, while hotels and guesthouses suffered heavy damage.

The department restricted public access to rivers and streams. Emergency control rooms were set up at historic and tourist sites. Rescue teams remain on high alert.

Punjab’s Secretary of Tourism, Raja Jahangir Anwar, said field offices will work closely with district administrations and emergency operation centers. Emergency helplines have been displayed at tourist spots, urging travelers to check weather forecasts before journeys.

He advised people to avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rains. “In case of emergencies, call the helplines immediately,” he added.

Rainfall Data

Over the past 24 hours, several areas recorded heavy rainfall. Islamabad received 76 millimeters at Golra and 75 millimeters at Saidpur. Rawalpindi recorded 53 millimeters at Chaklala. Significant rainfall also fell in Jhelum, Sialkot, Mangla, and Mandi Bahauddin.

Other areas, including Tharparkar, Barkhan, and parts of Kashmir, also saw intense showers.

Meteorologists explained that moist currents from both the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, along with a westerly wave, are driving the rains. The system is expected to persist into next week. Heavy falls are likely in northern Punjab, Pothohar, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and northeastern Balochistan.

National Measures

Earlier, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), under directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, issued a travel advisory. It limited tourism in mountainous and flood-prone regions.

The NDMA warned that Section 144 could be imposed in high-risk areas if conditions worsen. Authorities were instructed to strictly enforce restrictions on public movement.