Lahore: Punjab still on high alert as a worsening flood crisis grips the province, following fresh water releases from India into the Sutlej River. Emergency warnings have been extended across nine districts, with authorities warning of extremely high-level floods persisting until at least September 5.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed alerts in Kasur, Okara, Bahawalnagar, Pakpattan, Vehari, Lodhran, Bahawalpur, Multan, and Muzaffargarh, as swollen rivers continue to wreak havoc across southern and central Punjab.

Floods Affect Over 2 Million, Death Toll Rises:

Floodwaters from the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers have already impacted more than 2 million people, with the death toll reaching 41. Thousands of families have been displaced as authorities race to conduct mass evacuations from submerged and low-lying areas.

At Head Mohammad Wala in Multan, a massive flood wave of 450,000 cusecs in the Chenab River has tested the city’s primary defenses.

The Akbar Flood Bund is under pressure, and authorities have placed dynamite along Head Mohammad Wala Road to execute emergency breaching operations if water levels continue to rise.

Entire villages from Jhok Venus to Head Mohammad Wala are underwater, while residents near Basti Bosan and Jhok Arabi report complete disruption of education, with schools inundated and children displaced.

In central Punjab, floodwaters have surged into Tandlianwala and Kamalia in Toba Tek Singh, flooding dozens of villages and damaging major access roads.

A significant breach on the GT Road between Lahore and Faisalabad has brought traffic to a halt, further isolating affected areas and hampering relief operations.

At Head Trimmu, flows have surged to over 479,000 cusecs, pushing water into surrounding villages in Jhang and Muzaffargarh. In Chiniot, over 141 villages and 200,000 people have been affected, with rescue teams struggling to reach stranded families.

Sindh on Alert, Health Risks Mount:

While Punjab remains the epicenter of the crisis, a low-level flood continues in Sindh at Sukkur, Kotri, and Guddu barrages. Despite repeated warnings, many residents in riverine (katcha) areas remain reluctant to evacuate.

The National Polio Eradication Programme has raised serious concerns about the spread of polio and waterborne diseases, urging immediate medical interventions and sanitation efforts in affected regions.

Adding to the crisis, the Meteorological Department has forecast more rainfall in upper catchment areas by September 3, with potential urban flooding in Lahore, Gujranwala, and Gujrat.

Authorities continue to coordinate with military and rescue agencies for relief distribution, while residents are urged to remain alert, follow official guidance, and evacuate when instructed.