High flood threat persists in Chenab and Sutlej rivers

MULTAN/BAHAWALPUR: Hundreds of villages were submerged in Muzaffargarh due to high level floods in the Chenab River, while a large number of people were migrating to safer places.

Police say more than a thousand people were shifted to safer places in 24 hours, rescue operations were carried out in Rangpur, Doaba, Sanki, Khangarh, Wheel Wali, Banda Ishaq and Azmatpur.

According to police, 32 rescue boats and 8 police boats across the district are rescuing people, Army, wildlife boats and private boats are also transporting people to safer places.

The district administration of Okara says that the river Ravi and the river Sutlej also have a high level of flood situation, the holidays of all public and private schools in 32 villages have been extended from September 8 to 14.

According to the spokesperson PDMA, the situation in the rivers of Punjab remains intact, the river Sutlej has a high level at Ganda Singh Wala and a high level flood at Sulemanki.

According to a PDMA spokesperson, there is a flood at Khanki Headworks in the Chenab River, while the River Ravi has a high level flood at Shahdara. There is also a high level flood at the Head Sadhanai.

Spokeswoman PDMK says that the rivers of Punjab are feared to be a high level flood till September 9, with rains in the upper reaches feared to increase the flow of rivers.

A very high flood level has been recorded in the River Chenab, with water inflow and outflow at Head Panjnad measured at 609,669 cusecs, while the flow at Head Trimmu stood at 543,000 cusecs.

According to authorities, the rising water levels in the Chenab caused a breach in a local embankment at Jalalpur Pirwala, submerging dozens of villages. Residents were forced to take shelter on rooftops as floodwaters inundated their homes.

The Shah Rasool and Bet Wahi agricultural embankments in Jalalpur Pirwala collapsed under pressure, while in Bahadurpur, floodwaters entered residential areas, leaving families stranded.

Emergency has been declared in Shujabad and Jalalpur Pirwala, with authorities ordering the evacuation of Jalalpur Pirwala town to prevent further loss of life.

Rescue teams have been deployed to carry out relief operations, but officials fear the situation may worsen if water inflows continue to rise in the Chenab.

On the other hand, floodwaters from the River Sutlej have caused widespread destruction in the village of Panwah in Jhangi Wala, where a breach in the embankment late Sunday night inundated homes and farmland.

The deluge swept away standing crops and submerged dozens of houses, forcing residents to evacuate on a self-help basis. Many families were seen leaving the area with their belongings, while livestock have been left without fodder due to the flooding.

Local residents reported that large-scale displacement is under way as people continue to move to safer locations. Authorities fear the damage could intensify if water levels in the Sutlej continue to rise.