Jalalpur Pirwala Severely Hit by Floodwaters, Emergency Evacuations Underway
Multan: The town of Jalalpur Pirwala in Multan district has been severely impacted by massive floodwaters following the swelling of River Chenab. Surrounded on all sides, the area is facing emergency-level flooding as authorities work round the clock to evacuate residents from affected villages.
A breach on the Uch Sharif Superhighway has widened further, exacerbating the flood situation. Emergency evacuation operations are ongoing across various regions, especially in low-lying areas.
Acting on the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, senior minister Maryam Aurangzeb and other cabinet members personally supervised the rescue operations at 86-M Bund village. Maryam Aurangzeb made public announcements herself via loudspeaker, urging people to evacuate immediately. The Commissioner of Multan and other officials have also been on the ground since 6 AM overseeing the evacuation process.
Around 90% of the peripheral areas of Jalalpur Pirwala are reported to be submerged. Residents of nearby villages affected by the breach near Uch Sharif are also being evacuated.
Meanwhile, flood levels across Punjab’s major rivers remain dangerously high:
* **River Chenab:**
* Head Panjnad: 660,000 cusecs (rising)
* Head Marala: 50,000 cusecs
* Khanki Headworks: 92,000 cusecs
* Qadirabad: 94,000 cusecs
* Head Trimmu: 178,000 cusecs (declining)
* **River Sutlej at Sulemanki:** 124,000 cusecs
* **River Ravi:**
* Ganda Singh Wala: 182,000 cusecs
* Jassar: 23,000 cusecs
* Shahdara: 31,000 cusecs
* Balloki Headworks: 63,000 cusecs
* Head Sidhnai: 78,000 cusecs (declining)
According to the Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the recent decrease in monsoon rainfall has led to a notable reduction in river flow levels. Rainfall in the upper catchment areas has also subsided, slightly easing pressure on flood response operations.
However, authorities remain on high alert as the situation remains critical in many flood-hit areas.
