Thousands Left Homeless, Crops Swept Away
A worsening flood situation in South Punjab has forced thousands of families to abandon their homes after the Indus and Chenab rivers burst their banks. Villages across Layyah, Taunsa Sharif, Kot Addu, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur and Multan have been inundated, leaving homes destroyed and farmland submerged.
In Multan, mango orchards and standing crops were wiped out as floodwaters swallowed entire villages. In Kot Addu, residents of Ehsanpur and Hinjrai had to escape with little more than their livestock. A rescue worker, who requested anonymity, said his team evacuated more than 150 people by boat: “The houses are encircled by water, the fields are gone, and the land is collapsing into the rivers.”
Layyah has seen roads washed away near the Taunsa bridge, cutting off communities and forcing families to seek shelter in open areas. At Head Taunsa, water flows have surged to 500,000 cusecs, raising fears for downstream towns in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.
Jampur tehsil has been particularly devastated, with entire villages—Shero Jadu, Jakhar Imam Shah, Lundi Pitafi and Qabool Chowk—underwater. Residents there complained of receiving no government help. “We had to leave on our own, carrying whatever cattle we could,” said Khalil Malik, a local farmer.
Muzaffargarh has also seen breaches in protective bunds, displacing communities in Jatoi and Alipur. Villages near Khairpur and Kehal now stand abandoned.
Another Wave of Heavy Rains Approaching
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned that the crisis could worsen, with another spell of heavy monsoon showers set to lash the country starting August 23. The system is expected to bring intense rainfall to northern and central Pakistan, followed by Sindh and Balochistan later in the month.
Flash floods, urban flooding in low-lying areas, and landslides in mountainous regions are among the key risks. Major cities including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Peshawar and Sialkot have been advised to brace for waterlogging. Meanwhile, tourist hotspots in Murree, Galiyat and Azad Kashmir face a high chance of landslides.
The Met Office also cautioned that strong winds and lightning could damage fragile infrastructure, including power lines and billboards, urging citizens to avoid unnecessary travel in vulnerable zones.
PDMA Sounds Alarm Over Dams at Capacity
Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has declared a province-wide high alert. Officials confirmed medium-level flooding at Taunsa Barrage on the Indus, with Chashma and Kalabagh also under strain. The Sutlej River at Ganda Singh Wala and Bed Sulemanki is experiencing low-level flooding.
Adding to the concern, Tarbela Dam has reached full capacity while Mangla is nearly three-quarters filled, meaning more water releases into already swollen rivers are inevitable.
“People living in riverbeds must relocate immediately,” warned PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia. He stressed that swimming or recreational activities near rivers and canals could prove deadly, especially for children.
A Looming Humanitarian Emergency
The combined impact of swollen rivers, breached bunds, and the forecasted rains points to a prolonged crisis in Punjab and beyond. With crops destroyed and families displaced, local communities face not only immediate safety threats but also long-term economic hardship.
Whether authorities can mount an effective rescue and relief operation before the next wave of rains will determine how deep this crisis runs in the weeks ahead.
