The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a warning that Lahore and other parts of Punjab face an “exceptionally high” flood threat. Heavy rains and India’s release of water from two dams have caused rivers to swell, leading authorities to seek military assistance in six districts. Both nations have been hit by intense monsoon rains and flooding in recent weeks.
The release of excess water from Indian dams could further flood parts of Punjab province, which is considered the country’s breadbasket and is home to half of its 240 million people. The combination of relentless rains and water releases from India has pushed rivers into dangerous territory, prompting authorities to raise the alarm. As a result, floodwaters surged in the Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej, causing breaches in Narowal, Sialkot, and Shakargarh. Reports from Zafarwal indicate that a portion of Hanjli Bridge collapsed under the pressure of Nullah Dek, cutting off road access to dozens of villages.
An “Extreme” Situation
In its latest advisory early Wednesday, the NDMA described the situation as “extreme” and warned that vulnerable areas are already at risk. The Ravi, swelling rapidly at Jassar, is carrying 170,000 cusecs of water, and its volume is projected to surge to 250,000 cusecs by morning—a level that could overwhelm embankments and inundate nearby settlements. The Chenab at Marala, a critical flashpoint during high monsoon flows, could see a staggering 690,000 cusecs, while the Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala is already flowing at 245,000 cusecs, with more water expected.
Rescue authorities are racing to prepare. The NDMA has urged families in low-lying areas to move to safer ground, warning that any further delay could put lives at risk. In Shahdara and along the Motorway-2, the Ravi has been rising fast, forcing people to prepare for potential evacuation. Officials have also advised citizens to limit travel to only what is absolutely necessary and to stay in contact with local rescue teams. “The rivers are unforgiving right now,” one official remarked, emphasizing that the next few hours will determine if protective walls hold or if neighborhoods on the fringe will have to be cleared out on short notice.
India’s release of an additional 200,000 cusecs into the Ravi and an expected 100,000 cusecs into the Chenab has heightened fears of very high flooding within the next 48 hours. Rescue teams continue to evacuate stranded residents by boat from river-adjacent areas. In Shakargarh, Nullah Bainsi and Nullah Basantar have overflowed, submerging connecting roads and several villages.
Army Called in for Rescue Operations
The provincial government has requested the army’s assistance to support civil authorities as floodwaters continue to disrupt daily life in six districts, including Lahore, Kasur, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Narowal, and Okara. Officials stated that the district administrations in the affected areas sought immediate military assistance to protect lives and support ongoing rescue operations. Rescue 1122, civil defense, police, and local administration teams are already on the ground, but the scale of the crisis has stretched their resources thin. The Punjab Home Department has formally written to the federal interior ministry requesting the deployment of troops in the six districts.
“Next 48 Hours are Critical”
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) announced late on Tuesday that India had opened all the gates of its Thein Dam on the Ravi River. India’s water resources ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This announcement came a day after Pakistan received a second warning from India that it intended to release water from the rapidly filling Madhopur Dam. Both dams are on the Ravi River, which flows from Indian Punjab into Pakistan.
“The flood situation is grave,” said Irfan Ali Kathia, a PDMA official in Punjab. “The next 48 hours will be critical.” Earlier, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority said that its satellite-based assessment of Thein Dam showed it was 97% full and could release water at any time. India routinely releases excess water from its dams, which flows into Pakistan, as the two nations share rivers. The Punjab province was partitioned between the two countries in 1947 when they gained independence.
Emergency and Rescue Operations
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting on the flood situation and was informed that over 174,000 people had been evacuated from inundated districts of Punjab following the flooding of the River Sutlej. He directed authorities to accelerate rescue operations, particularly in flood-hit districts along the river, and to ensure the timely provision of food, medicines, and tents. The NDMA chairman was ordered to maintain close coordination with the PDMA.
Authorities are evacuating people from hundreds of villages in the vicinity of the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers in Punjab province, with evacuations continuing with the assistance of army troops. Officials said the three rivers are currently experiencing medium to high flooding, though further heavy rainfall is expected in both Punjab and Pakistani Kashmir in the next 12 to 24 hours. Deputy Commissioner Saba Asghar Ali said after visiting Pasrur city near the Indian border that 16 villages are currently at risk of flooding. She added that arrangements for food, medicines, and other necessities have been made in relief camps set up in the area.
“Due to climate change, eastern rivers are experiencing heavier rainfall compared to the past,” said Kazim Raza Pirzada, the Punjab province irrigation minister. The death toll from flooding in the country since the start of the monsoon season in late June now stands at 802, with half of those deaths occurring this month alone. In Indian Kashmir, an estimated 68 people have died this month, including eight on Tuesday. The Gilgit-Baltistan region has suffered accelerated glacial melting, while the southern city of Karachi was partially submerged by floods last week.
