Divided by borders, United by tragedy: Flash floods ravage India and Pakistan

[BouncerGuy]

More than two million people evacuated from deadly floods in Pakistan

More than two million people have been evacuated in Pakistan's Punjab province as floods sweep the country's eastern region, authorities said.

Another 150,000 have been evacuated in Sindh province, national disaster management chief Inam Haider Malik told reporters on Thursday, warning that the "number may rise over the coming days".

Monsoon rains have killed more than 900 people nationwide since late June, according to an update from the International Medical Corps on Friday.

Climate change has worsened floods in Pakistan, as heavy rains cause rivers to overflow. But critics also blame the lack of government investment in disaster mitigation, such as better alert systems and infrastructure.

The floods, which have destroyed larges swathes of farms and houses, are devastating for residents in Pakistan, 40% of whom live below the poverty line.

Many families chose to stay home to protect their property despite flood risks, residents in Punjab's flood-stricken areas told the BBC last month.

Rescuers had to go door-to-door to relocate villagers and their livestock by boats - but this method also comes with risks of its own, as the small boats are forced to contend with strong currents.

Nine people died on Tuesday after a rescue boat carrying flood victims capsized in the Indus River. Days earlier, five people died in a similar incident on the outskirts of Jalalpur Pirwala city.

The floods have also wreaked havoc in neighbouring India, killing at least 30 people and affecting more than 354,000.

Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority says it has delivered tonnes of relief supplies, including blankets, tents and water filtration devices to flood-hit areas in Punjab.

Malik said it would take weeks for the water to dry before they could start "rehabilitation work" on thousands of villages and fields, Dawn reported.

This week, the UN allocated $5m to support Pakistan's flood response, while the US State Department approved funding and deployed disaster response personnel - the first assistance of its kind during Trump's second term, ABC reported.

Pakistan's geography makes it extremely vulnerable to climate change, as the country contends with both extreme heat and rain. Its melting glaciers have also created new lakes at risk of glacial outbursts.

In 2022, months of heavy rain in Pakistan killed more than 1,700 people and affected more than 30 million in what became one of the deadliest flood events in history.

Amid the latest wave of floods, Pakistani authorities this week declared a climate emergency. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also ordered officials to come up with a 300-day plan to address challenges posed by climate change.

BBC

 

[BouncerGuy]

The shameless regime is making fun of poor people who are already affected by the flood.
The police are doing the camera work... WOW... pathetic Maryam doing all the shenanigans for her PR.

@Bewal Express @DeadlyVenom @Bhaag Viru Bhaag Check this one

https://twitter.com/x/status/1966031657225650356

 

[BouncerGuy]

Flood threat remains severe at rivers’ confluence

Punjab is facing a relentless flood emergency as the Sutlej, Ravi and Chenab rivers continue to swell, inundating thousands of villages and displacing millions across the province.

The situation intensified after Indian authorities issued alerts regarding rising water levels at Ganda Singh Wala and Ferozepur two days ago, prompting renewed evacuations along the Sutlej River.

Despite some areas witnessing a slight recession in water levels, the overall flood threat remains severe, with rescue and relief operations stretched across multiple districts.

At Panjnad Headworks on the Chenab River, water discharge surged to an exceptionally high level, crossing 668,000 cusecs. Between Wednesday morning and early Thursday, the flow increased by 100,000 cusecs, triggering mass evacuations in Alipur tehsil.

In a late night development, a protective dyke near the city of Shujabad collapsed for a second time, inundating communities along the river bank.

The downstream pressure has also impacted Sindh’s Guddu and Sukkur barrages, which continue to record medium flood levels with flows exceeding 400,000 cusecs.

In Rahim Yar Khan, authorities reported 660,000 cusecs passing through Chachran Sharif, though no immediate threat to localities was identified.

According to the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) data, Panjnad witnessed outflows of over 668,000 cusecs, with a steady trend, while Guddu and Sukkur barrages had a flow of over 400,000 cusecs.

On the other hand, flood levels in Punjab rivers receded further, with Ganda Singh Wala on the Sutlej River near the Indian border in a “medium” flood.

PDMA River Flows report released at 6:30pm revealed that on the Chenab River, Marala Headworks was steady at 68,986 cusecs, Khanki Headworks was rising at 82,411 cusecs, and Qadirabad Headworks was steady at 84,440 cusecs.

At Chiniot Bridge, the flow was rising at 57,463 cusecs, while the Rivaz Bridge gauge level was steady at 518 feet.

At Trimmu Headworks, the flow was steady at 140,007 cusecs. The Head Muhammad Wala gauge was falling at 412.38 feet, the Sher Shah Bridge level was steady at 393.20 feet and Panjnad Headworks was flowing extremely heavy at 658,845 cusecs.

On the Ravi River, conditions were steady at all locations: Jassar was reporting 19,500 cusecs, Ravi Syphon 32,120 cusecs, Shahdara 31,682 cusecs, Balloki Headworks 59,580 cusecs, and Sidhnai Headworks 75,549 cusecs.

On the Sutlej River, flows were predominantly steady: Ganda Singh Wala was at 98,165 cusecs, and Sulemanki Headworks was at 121,459 cusecs. An exception was Islam Headworks, where the flow was falling at 113,956 cusecs, while the Mailsi Syphon was steady at 120,150 cusecs.

For the Indus River upstream of Guddu, the Chachran Bridge gauge was steady at 298.25 feet, and the Guddu Barrage flow was steady at 506,433 cusecs.

Tragedies, displacement

In Bahawalnagar, two people drowned after a Rescue 1122 boat carrying 23 evacuees capsized. In Jalalpur Pirwala, another rescue boat carrying 25 people overturned, leaving five, including children, missing. In Muzaffargarh, three teenagers fell into floodwaters near Basti Jarah; one died and two were rescued.

Authorities reported thousands fleeing their homes in Seetpur, Khairpur and Bait Nabi Shah in Muzaffargarh, as well as in Jalalpur Pirwala, where 706,000 people across 148 mouzas have been affected. In Khanewal, 159,029 people were evacuated from riverbeds, while 128,658 acres of crops were submerged.

Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabil Javaid said more than 4,500 villages and 4.287 million people have been affected by floods across the province, with 2.262m relocated.

He said 396 relief camps, 490 medical camps and 412 veterinary camps have been set up, while 1.696m animals have been shifted to safer areas. A total of 79 people have lost their lives in the floods, he added.

Rescue, relief efforts

Punjab Emergency Service Secretary Dr Rizwan Naseer said over 13,600 people were rescued in the past three days in Multan alone, with more than 25,000 relocated. Across the province, more than 362,000 people have been evacuated using 139 rescue boats.

PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said four helicopters and 2,000 tents have been deployed to Jalalpur Pirwala, where relief distribution continues with army support.

Rahim Yar Khan Deputy Commissioner Khurrum Parvaiz told Dawn that water levels were rising downstream of Panjnad, prompting evacuation operations in the riverbed areas of Khanpur and Liaquatpur. He said around 12,000 people had been evacuated, six relief camps established and 1,800 tents distributed among flood-affected families.

The deputy commissioner added that all dykes in the district were intact, with 660,000 cusecs passing through Chachran Sharif, and assured there was no threat to nearby localities.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had ordered the removal of the Assistant Commissioner of Jalalpur Pirwala over negligence after a rescue boat capsized. She added that water levels at Muhammad Wala and Sher Shah bridges had fallen below critical levels, ruling out immediate breaching of dykes.

Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman visited Panjnad Headworks, where he was briefed on inflows and discharges. Officials confirmed that evacuation of low-lying areas was ongoing, with all embankments under constant monitoring.

Meanwhile, officials said Mangla Dam is 90 per cent full, Tarbela 100pc, India’s Bhakra 90pc, Pong 99pc and Thein 97pc, increasing downstream pressure.

Balochistan rains

NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik said on Thursday that Pakistan was facing the final monsoon spell of this season, adding that during the past two days, the floodwater heading south was “losing steam”, Dawn.com reported.

“The water in our rivers came in two layers,” he explained. “The first is hitting Guddu Barrage, the other is at Panjnad. Based on this information, we expect that it will stabilise in the next two to three days.”

Several areas of Balochistan have been lashed by torrential monsoon rains over the past two days, triggering flash floods and prompting the PDMA to issue an alert on Thursday. District administrations have been directed to take urgent measures to protect residents from possible devastation.

Officials said seasonal rivers and streams were already carrying heavy rainwater, with the risk of severe flooding if showers continued in the catchment areas.

At Hub Dam, water levels rose rapidly to 338 feet, just one foot short of its full capacity of 339 feet. A senior Irrigation Department official said the spillways could be opened at any time, and people living along the Hub River had been warned to move to safer locations.

Meanwhile, the Balochistan government has completed arrangements along the left bank of the Indus River in anticipation of floodwaters expected to arrive from Punjab’s Sutlej, Ravi and Chenab rivers within the next few days.

Rescue teams, boats and heavy machinery have been deployed in the border areas of Nasirabad division, including Nasirabad, Usta Muhammad, Sohbatpur and Jaffarabad.

“For the past week, rescue staff and equipment have been positioned along the Sindh-Balochistan border,” an official said.

Balochistan Irrigation Minister Sadiq Umrani told the provincial assembly that preparations were in place to shift people from vulnerable areas to safety. He added that an understanding had been reached with the Sindh government that no embankments would be deliberately breached if water reached dangerous levels. “If over 1.1 million cusecs flow through the Indus, the chief ministers of both provinces will decide further action,” he said.

Balochistan PDMA Director General Jahanzeb Khan said 16 flood control centres had been set up across four districts of Nasirabad division, operating round the clock. Rescue and relief arrangements, including provision of essential goods, had been finalised to assist displaced families.

DAWN NEWS

 

[Ball Blazer]

New rain spell forecast from Sept 16​

As the country reels from devastating floods caused by one of the most intense monsoon seasons in recent memory, weather officials have forecast a fresh spell of rainfall from September 16 to 18. The new rains are expected to affect Azad Jammu and Kashmir, northern and central Punjab, and parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Unlike the torrential downpours of August, the upcoming spell is likely to be of moderate intensity. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have urged local administrations to remain on high alert.

Meanwhile, officials have warned that districts including Multan, Muzaffargarh, Liaquatpur, and Rahim Yar Khan face heightened risk as India continues to release high volumes of water into downstream rivers.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), protective embankments at Basti Baharan near Multan have collapsed, while a deliberate cut was made on the Uch Sharif road to protect the city from inundation. This move, however, left surrounding villages — Mouza Jhanbo, Nooraja Bhatta, Kotla, Bahadurpur, and Sabra — badly affected.

At Sher Shah dyke, water continues to press against the barrier, though the decision to breach the dam has been delayed after the immediate flooding threat in Jalalpur Pirwala temporarily subsided.

The situation at Head Panjnad remains alarming, with a massive flood wave of 607,000 cusecs flowing through. Earlier, nearly 70 percent of Alipur was submerged, leaving widespread devastation.

In Farid Shah near Qabulah, thousands of acres of crops have been destroyed and road links cut off, forcing residents to evacuate by boat. In Lodhran's Akbar Shah area, more than 2,000 houses are underwater, with cotton, rice, maize, and sesame crops completely wiped out.

The Arifwala region is also struggling against high floods in the Sutlej River, where displaced families are sheltering in makeshift camps, waiting for relief.

Meanwhile, in Tehsil Liaquatpur Narwala (Rahim Yar Khan), river water has entered areas that had been dry for decades, creating chaos and forcing mass evacuations. Local authorities have declared the protection of lives, livestock, and property their top priority.

At Head Panjnad on the Chenab, the flood has surged past 668,000 cusecs, moving rapidly towards Simka Chachran. Despite earlier signs of relief, the water level is rising again.

Additionally, Taunsa Barrage on the Indus River is recording a discharge of around 200,000 cusecs, while Trimmu Barrage is releasing 188,000 cusecs towards Sindh.

At Ganda Singh Wala, the Sutlej River is flowing at more than 182,000 cusecs, with Indian water releases continuing for the third consecutive day, further aggravating the crisis.

The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported on Thursday a decline in water flows in most rivers due to reduced monsoon rains. Rainfall in the upper catchment areas has also stopped.

According to the PDMA, the water flow in the Sutlej River at Ganda Singh Wala was 182,000 cusecs, while at Sulemanki it stood at 124,000 cusecs. The Chenab River recorded flows of 50,000 cusecs at Marala, 92,000 cusecs at Khanki Headworks, and 94,000 cusecs at Qadirabad.

The Ravi River's flow was 23,000 cusecs at Jassar, 31,000 cusecs at Shahdara, 78,000 cusecs at Sidhnai Headworks, and 63,000 cusecs at Balloki Headworks. At Trimmu Headworks, the flow was 178,000 cusecs, while at Panjnad Headworks it stood at 660,000 cusecs.

Compared with the previous days, the flow has declined at Sidhnai and Trimmu Headworks but increased at Panjnad.

The Meteorological Department reported a significant rise in water levels at the country's major reservoirs.

Tarbela Dam has reached its maximum capacity of 1,550 feet, while Rawal Dam stands at 1,751.80 feet - almost at its full capacity of 1,752 feet.

Mangla Dam is 92 per cent full at 1,234.60 feet, and Simli Dam has reached its maximum storage of 2,315.25 feet. In response, spillways of all major dams have been opened to release excess water and protect infrastructure.

Sindh situation

The floodwaters that wreaked havoc in Punjab, have now entered the Indus River, causing a rapid increase in water levels at the Guddu and Sukkur barrages.

According to irrigation official on Thursday, over the past 24 hours, the water levels at both barrages have risen by thousands of cusecs.

According to the latest data, the inflow at the Guddu Barrage stands at 502,861 cusecs, while the outflow is 407,970 cusecs.

At the Sukkur Barrage, the inflow is 440,985 cusecs, and the outflow is 412,735 cusecs. The Kotri Barrage has an inflow of 257,754 cusecs and an outflow of 254,354 cusecs.

The rising water levels in the Indus River have inundated several areas in the kachha (riverine) region, with floodwaters entering numerous villages.

New rain spell forecast from Sept 16 | The Express Tribune

Floodwaters enter Sindh, raise water level in barrages

tribune.com.pk