At least 25 people killed as riverine flooding sweeps Punjab

At least 25 people have lost their lives in Punjab due to riverine flooding, triggered by unusually heavy monsoon rains and upstream water releases from India in the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers.

Flooding across Punjab has caused widespread devastation, claiming dozens of lives and leaving thousands homeless. In Sialkot district, five members of a family died in Sambarial, while in Gujranwala division floods killed 15 people. Reports also confirmed four deaths in Gujrat, three in Narowal and two in Hafizabad. The disaster has submerged hundreds of villages in Kasur, Narowal and Pindi Bhattian, sweeping away cattle and destroying thousands of acres of crops. In Bahawalnagar, several houses collapsed as floodwaters continued to rise. Dozens of villages in Chiniot and Wazirabad were also inundated after the Chenab River overflowed.

According to the Flood Forecasting Division, the River Ravi has reached a dangerous level with flows of 145000 cusecs at Shahdara and 152000 cusecs at Jassar. However, the Lahore Commissioner confirmed that the peak flow has passed and the situation in the city is under control. In the River Chenab, extremely high floods have been reported at Khanki and Qadirabad barrages, where flows reached 859000 and 996000 cusecs respectively. At Head Marala, water levels stand at 191000 cusecs. Authorities have warned nearby residents to remain alert as the threat continues.

The River Sutlej is also in high flood. At Ganda Singh Wala, the inflow reached 261000 cusecs, while at Head Sulemanki it stood at 109000 cusecs. In Chishtian, six embankments broke, flooding over 300 villages and destroying crops on more than 7000 acres. In Bahawalnagar alone, over 105 villages have been affected, displacing nearly 90000 people.