Monsoon Ends, Rivers Return to Normal Levels in Punjab: PDMA DG

Lahore: Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab, Irfan Ali Kathia, announced that the monsoon season has ended and all rivers across the province have returned to normal water levels.

Addressing a press conference, he stated that the Chenab River from Marala to Panjnad and Jhang to Sadhnai is flowing at normal levels, while water flow in the Sutlej remains relatively high. He noted that ponding in several areas is receding, though a 22-kilometer stretch of the M-5 Motorway remains closed due to flooding, with restoration efforts underway.

Providing an overview of the flood impact, the DG said that 28 districts and 4,795 villages were affected, with a total of 407,030 people hit by the floods. In South Punjab, 331 relief camps were established, housing over 106,000 people in Ali Pur and Jalalpur alone.

He added that 425 medical camps were set up, boats have now been withdrawn due to receding water, and more than 612,000 people were rescued from affected areas. Additionally, nearly 2 million livestock were evacuated, while 824 animals are reported missing, pending survey confirmation.

Kathia confirmed that the floods claimed 123 lives and damaged 2.58 million acres of agricultural land. Crops suffered major losses, with maize hit the hardest, while rice crops suffered 15% damage, sugarcane 13%, and cotton 5%. The worst agricultural devastation occurred in Gujrat and Faisalabad.