Punjab floods: millions face displacement

LAHORE:

Southern Punjab faces worsening flood emergency as rivers overflow and embankments collapse, threatening to displace tens of thousands more residents.

In the cosmopolitan city of Karachi, streets and houses in low-lying areas were inundated on Wednesday as the metropolis endured a third consecutive day of heavy monsoon rains, with rivers overflowing and rescue teams shifting hundreds of residents to safety.

The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has directed urgent evacuations from flood-prone districts including Muzaffargarh, Lodhran, Rajanpur, Liaqatpur and Rahim Yar Khan, stressing that residents in riverbeds must be relocated to safe areas without delay.

Chenab has risen to dangerous levels in Multan, where water crossed the 394.5-foot mark, forcing mass evacuations and disrupting daily life.

Floodwaters entered villages including Basti Gagran Kachor, Mirza Pur and Hasan Kachor, leaving families stranded. Authorities diverted heavy traffic through Vehari and Khanewal as key roads near Sher Shah and Head Muhammadwala became unsafe.

Officials said pressure is mounting on Sher Shah Barrage and nearby dikes, where a controlled breach is under consideration to relieve strain on embankments.

If executed, more than 8,000 homes and 30,000 people could be affected. Warnings have already been issued for nearby settlements, urging residents to move to relief camps.

Further downstream, India has released additional water into Sutlej, intensifying flows at Harike and Ferozepur.

At Head Panjnad, discharge reached 530,000 cusecs, classified as an "extremely high flood". Pakistan's Ministry of Water Resources has placed all departments on emergency alert.

In Muzaffargarh, 138 villages are submerged, affecting over 135,000 people. Rangpur reported another 50,000 displaced after 28 villages were inundated.

In Lodhran, breaches left multiple communities under water, while in Alipur, eight people were swept away; three were confirmed dead and five remain missing. Bahawalpur officials said 150,000 residents have been affected by rising waters in 98 locations.

Authorities fear the crisis could worsen in Jalalpur Pirwala, where 500,000 cusecs released from Head Trimmu surged downstream.

Emergency measures are in place for the next 24 hours as thousands continue to flee low-lying areas. Local officials said more than 235,000 people and 180,000 livestock have been relocated to safer ground.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported that 2.1 million people have already been displaced across Punjab this monsoon, with nearly two million acres of farmland submerged. Crops of cotton, maize and sesame have been wiped out in several districts, compounding economic losses.

Public health concerns are also rising. The Punjab health department said more than 158,000 flood-affected people have contracted diseases including respiratory infections, skin ailments, diarrhea and eye infections.

Snakebites and dog bites have also been reported in relief camps. In Arifwala, stagnant water has also triggered outbreaks of waterborne diseases.

The provincial government has deployed more than 300 boats, 400 inflatable rafts and thousands of life jackets to Multan, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalpur, Lodhran and Rahim Yar Khan. The army and Rescue 1122 are assisting with evacuations and efforts to plug breaches.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority, Punjab alone has recorded 246 deaths this season, while nationwide tolls stand at 929 with more than 1,000 injured.

Floodwaters have now pushed into Sindh, where Indus, Sutlej and Chenab continue to rise. At Guddu Barrage, flows exceeded 500,000 cusecs on Wednesday, with warnings that an even higher flood surge could arrive within 12 hours.

Sukkur Barrage recorded more than 440,000 cusecs upstream as all gates were opened to ease pressure.

Despite ongoing relief, villagers in Bhawana, Ahmedpur Sial, Uch Sharif and Kabirwala remain cut off, appealing for urgent rescue.

Officials caution that the coming days will be decisive. With inflows continuing from India and upstream barrages under strain, southern Punjab and Sindh remain on high alert for what experts call one of the most severe flood emergencies in recent memory.