Punjab Rivers Swell to Dangerous Levels After India Releases Water, Heavy Rains Intensify Flood Threat

LAHORE:Water levels in Punjab’s major rivers are rising rapidly after India released 200,000 cusecs into the Ravi River, compounded by continuous heavy rains. The Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej rivers have all reached near-dangerous flood levels, triggering high alerts across multiple districts.

According to the Irrigation Department, water flow in the Chenab River at Head Marala has surpassed the extremely dangerous level of 900,000 cusecs, while at Khanki the flow has reached 657,511 cusecs, creating severe flood conditions. The department noted that the capacity at Head Marala and Khanki is 1.1 million cusecs.

Commissioner of Gujranwala Division, Naveed Haider Shirazi, warned that if the flow in Chenab reaches 1.05 million cusecs, protective breaches will be made at designated points. He added that all precautionary measures have been finalized, with relief camps activated and sufficient stocks of food, drinking water, and medicines available.

Meanwhile, the Flood Forecasting Division Lahore reported that the Sutlej River at Ganda Singh Wala remains in extremely high flood, with the current flow at 245,236 cusecs and expected to rise to 280,000 cusecs in the next 12 hours.

At Jassar, the Ravi River is witnessing a very high flood with inflow recorded at 226,240 cusecs. Moderate flood conditions persist at Shahdara on the Ravi and at Sulemanki on the Sutlej, with low-lying areas along Shahdara and Motorway-2 at risk of inundation.

Authorities have directed residents of riverine belts to evacuate immediately due to rising waters. In Bahawalpur’s Khairpur Tamewali tehsil and adjoining riverine areas, floodwaters have already spread over thousands of acres, damaging crops, houses, and government schools.