LAHORE (Republicpk.com): Punjab witnessed its most severe flood in nearly four decades as a massive surge of 220,000 cusecs passed through Shahdara on the Ravi River yesterday, triggering widespread evacuations and emergency measures across the province.
Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Irfan Ali Kathia, confirmed in a press briefing that the water level is now receding and is expected to continue declining over the next few hours. Despite water entering nine different areas of Lahore, no casualties have been reported. Timely rescue operations ensured that affected residents were safely relocated.
According to PDMA data, 147,000 cusecs of water is currently flowing through Baloki, merging into the Ravi River and intensifying the flood risk downstream. Authorities have issued urgent evacuation orders for residents living along flood passages to safeguard lives and minimize damage.
Kathia also revealed that 80,000 cusecs of water had entered Punjab from India’s Madhupur Head Works. He criticized the lack of timely cross-border communication, stating that the absence of early warnings contributed to the scale of the damage. “The loss has increased due to delayed information,” he said.
The situation remains critical in areas such as Rewaz Bridge, Chiniot, and Jhang, where security and relief efforts have been ramped up. According to PTV News, over 1,769 villages have been submerged, affecting more than 14,000 people. Of these, more than 4,000 have been shifted to relief camps.
Tragically, 20 lives have been lost in Punjab due to the ongoing flood crisis. The PDMA has confirmed that alerts will remain in place until the floodwaters move into Sindh, where advance warnings have already been issued to the provincial government.
Under the Flood Plan Act, authorities have begun clearing illegal constructions from designated waterways. “Encroachments will be removed to restore safe passage for floodwaters,” Kathia emphasized.