Punjab on High Alert as India Releases 200,000 Cusecs into Ravi; Army Deployed in Six Districts
Punjab is facing a severe flood emergency after Dawn News reported that India released 200,000 cusecs of water into the Ravi River. Continuous rains have caused the Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej rivers to overflow, prompting the deployment of Pakistan Army units in Lahore, Kasur, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Narowal, and Okara.
The Flood Forecasting Division Lahore has confirmed extremely high flood levels at Headmarala in the Chenab, Gandasinghwala in the Sutlej, and Jasar in the Ravi. High levels are reported at Khanki on the Chenab, with moderate floods at Shahdara on the Ravi and Suleimanki on the Sutlej. Officials have warned that low‑lying areas of Shahdara and parts of Motorway 2 are at risk as water levels in the Ravi rise. Civil Defense has issued an alert, and sirens have been sounded along vulnerable riverbanks.
Rescue 1122, Punjab Police, and district administrations are stationed in high‑risk zones. In Narowal, 50 people including women and children trapped in the Jarmian Jhande area of Shakargarh were rescued after appeals for help. Among those stranded was MPA Ahmed Iqbal Lehri, who was evacuated with colleagues.
In Nankana Sahib, water levels at Head Baloki have reached 79,660 cusecs inflow and 67,760 cusecs outflow, with levels continuing to rise.
Floodwaters have submerged multiple villages and entered settlements, havelis, and deras in areas including Hede, Jattan Da Wada, Nawan Kot, Khizrabad, and Lalu Ana. Several villages such as Sheikh Datube Vel, Gujran Da Thatta, and Dera Mehr Ashraf have been cut off, while crops of paddy, corn, vegetables, and fodder face serious damage.
Locals and government teams are building earthen dams and working to restore damaged roads.
Gujranwala authorities have issued evacuation orders for communities near the Chenab after high‑level flood alerts. The inflow at Marala Barrage stands at 479,000 cusecs, with 255,800 cusecs recorded at Khanki Barrage in Wazirabad. Chiniot’s flow is currently at 100,000 cusecs and expected to rise as a 350,000‑cusec flood wave moves downstream over the next two days.
The Punjab Home Department has requested military assistance from the Federal Ministry of Interior, with the number of troops to be determined in consultation with district administrations.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed federal ministers to visit the affected areas, personally oversee relief work, and remain present in their constituencies. He has ordered the NDMA and relevant institutions to stay on high alert, speed up evacuations, and improve coordination.
Meanwhile, low‑level flooding has been reported at Sukkur Barrage on the Indus River.