Punjab under 'extremely high flood' threat again as India opens dam gates

Punjab is under another flood threat, even greater than the recent one, after India releases massive water from Salal Dam without official notice.

According to Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the release is expected to send an estimated 800,000 cusecs of floodwater into Pakistan’s River Chenab within 48 hours, raising fears of ‘extremely high flood conditions’ across multiple districts.

PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said all districts along Chenab have been placed on high alert, with commissioners and deputy commissioners have been instructed to remain in the field. “The next 36 hours are critical,” he warned, stressing that the water level could reach dangerous level at Head Marala. The surge comes as flooding has already caused widespread destruction along the Sutlej, Ravi and Chenab rivers.

On the other hand, with Tarbela Dam now at 100 per cent capacity and Mangla at 82 per cent, officials warn that the margin for absorbing further inflows is shrinking.

Breaches of embankments in Bahawalpur have inundated thousands of acres of crops, displacing villagers who are now evacuating with their livestock by boat. In Jhang, rescue teams continue to evacuate stranded families from the village of Jangran, while in Muzaffargarh, rising water level in the Chenab has forced authorities to consider emergency breaches to reduce pressure.

In Multan’s Shujaabad tehsil, authorities warned that up to 800,000 cusecs of water may flow through the Chenab, posing serious threat to 140 villages. Commissioner Amir Karim said that if needed, controlled cuts would be made at Head Muhammadwala to safeguard downstream areas.

Meanwhile, in Narowal and Nankana Sahib, breaches in protective bunds have pushed floodwaters into both urban and rural settlements, destroying crops and livestock. At Head Ganda Singh Wala on Sutlej, officials reported ‘alarming flood levels’ that have already wiped out thousands of acres of farmland.

Disaster claims 33 lives

Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed said more than 2,000 villages have been inundated across the province, affecting nearly 2.06 million people. So far, over 760,000 people have been evacuated to safer areas. Authorities have set up 511 relief camps, 354 medical camps, and 333 veterinary centers, while more than 516,000 livestock have been shifted to higher ground.

The disaster has already claimed 33 lives, leaving dozens injured. The Punjab government has announced compensation for affected families and farmers, pledging that losses would be assessed and financial assistance disbursed accordingly.

Heavy rainfall forecast

With heavy rainfall forecast in upper catchment areas until September 3, PDMA has also issued flood alerts for the Ravi, Sutlej, Chenab and connected streams through September 5. Local administrations have begun mosque announcements in Wazirabad and surrounding areas, urging residents to move to higher ground.

The Meteorological Department reported that in the past 24 hours, Lahore received 158mm of rainfall, Hafizabad 121mm, Multan 112mm, Okara 79mm, Sheikhupura 66mm, and Faisalabad 55mm. The ongoing ninth monsoon spell is expected to persist until September 2, with further widespread showers likely.

Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed has directed the agriculture, irrigation, health, livestock, forestry and transport departments to remain alert and fully mobilised.

Dozens of schools across Lahore, Arifwala and Pakpattan have been closed and turned into relief camps. According to official figures, 18 government schools in Lahore are currently housing more than 4,000 displaced people, with another 65 schools identified as potential relief centres if evacuations increase.

Monsoon downpours have compounded the misery of flood-hit communities. In Lahore, heavy rain has left key roads including Mall Road, Gulberg and Davis Road under water, worsening conditions in areas already submerged by Ravi floodwaters.

In Chiniot, 144 villages are inundated, with families trapped in water up to ten feet deep. Jhang has reported 180 villages submerged, while in Dera Ghazi Khan washed-out roads have left families dependent on boats for food and supplies. Health risks are escalating rapidly.

Waterborne diseases rise in submerged areas

Flooded settlements have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, fuelling spikes in dengue and malaria. Contaminated water has led to outbreaks of cholera, diarrhea and skin infections, while children and elderly people are reporting fever and respiratory illnesses.

Emergency health camps have been set up in Shahdara and other affected towns, but doctors warn that clean water shortages and poor sanitation remain severe challenges.

Environmental experts caution that while emergency relief is critical, Pakistan’s recurring flood disasters underscore deeper systemic failures. They point to unchecked housing along riverbanks, weak flood protection infrastructure and chronic underinvestment in reservoirs and early warning systems.

As thousands of families shelter in overcrowded schools with insufficient bedding and kitchen utensils. Aid workers stress that immediate needs—food, medicine and clean water—must be met, and also warn that long-term solutions can no longer be delayed.