Lahore/Islamabad — Southern Punjab is reeling from widespread flooding after the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers spilled over their banks, forcing mass evacuations and crippling road networks across multiple districts.
Entire Settlements Underwater
Dozens of villages in Multan, Bahawalpur, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, and Khanewal remain submerged. Attempts to manage the flood through controlled breaches backfired when water redirected from one embankment surged into populated areas. In Jalalpur Pirwala, breaches at Noraja Bhutta Bund and Gillani Road ended up flooding both rural villages and urban pockets.
The deluge has shut down a key section of the Sukkur-Multan Motorway for two straight days, cutting off traffic between Multan and Uch Sharif. Interchanges and link roads in the area are underwater, stranding residents and disrupting relief efforts.
Authorities confirmed one fatality in Bahadarpur, where rescuers retrieved the body of a 65-year-old man swept away by floodwaters.
Pressure on Embankments
At Panjnad Headworks, water levels have dropped dramatically — from 700,000 to around 296,000 cusecs — but embankments at Azmatpur and other vulnerable points are still spilling into low-lying areas.
Deputy Commissioner Waseem Hamid Sindhu said flood relief camps have been set up while work continues to protect sections of the motorway from further breaches. “Water levels are easing in some areas, and we hope conditions will stabilize within 24 hours,” he noted.
Relief Operations Stretch Thin
According to the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), nearly 4.7 million people have been affected across the province, with over 2.5 million already relocated. At least 4,700 villages have suffered flood damage — most along the Chenab, Sutlej, and Ravi belts.
To cope with the crisis, more than 370 relief camps and 450 medical centers have been set up. Authorities have also moved over two million livestock out of danger zones.
Fresh Rains on the Horizon
Even as water levels decline in parts of south Punjab, the PDMA has warned of another monsoon spell beginning today. Heavy showers are expected in Rawalpindi, Murree, and Galiyat on Sept 18–19, raising the risk of fresh flooding.
Dam reservoirs on both sides of the border are nearly at capacity, with Tarbela reported at 100 percent full and Mangla at 94 percent, raising concerns about further releases if rainfall intensifies.
Health Crisis Looming
Beyond immediate displacement, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a nationwide dengue warning. Officials caution that standing water left behind by the floods, combined with warm and humid post-monsoon weather, has created ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
From Sept 20 onwards, cities including Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, and Multan could face sharp spikes in dengue cases, echoing past outbreaks that strained hospitals during the autumn season.
Health departments have been urged to ramp up fumigation and public awareness drives, while citizens are being advised to eliminate stagnant water near their homes.
