Lahore Faces Disaster Risk if Flood Levels Persist

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD-(Mudassar Iqbal/Webdesk)-Fears are mounting that Lahore’s Shahdara area may be submerged within 24 hours as a massive flood relay approaches the Ravi River. Officials confirmed that 250,000 cusecs of water released from India has reached Head Sulemanki, sparking disaster concerns unless levels drop to safer thresholds.

Rising Flood Threat in Ravi and Chenab

Authorities warned that the Ravi River’s discharge above 250,000 cusecs could severely impact Shahdara. Efforts are underway to reduce the flow to 150,000 cusecs before entering Lahore. Meanwhile, the Chenab River continues to swell—water levels dropped from 900,000 to 500,000 cusecs at Head Marala but remain dangerously high downstream. At Khanki, one million cusecs have been recorded, while Qadirabad already reports 975,000 cusecs.

Punjab’s Flood Damage So Far

The crisis has wreaked devastation across Punjab:

• 61,126 civilians affected province-wide.

• 150,000 people impacted at 333 locations along the Chenab.

• 70,358 people affected across 101 sites near the Ravi River.

• 380,000 people displaced along the Sutlej River, with Kasur, Okara, Multan, Vehari, Bahawalpur and other districts among the hardest hit.

In Gujrat’s Shahbazpur, a Chenab River dam broke, inundating settlements. Three children drowned in rising waters, with locals rescuing one child and recovering two bodies. At least 100 people remain trapped in submerged villages.

Punjab Launches Largest Rescue Operation in 38 Years

In response, Punjab has mounted its biggest flood relief mission since 1987, setting up 263 relief camps and 161 medical camps. Over 600,000 civilians have been affected by floods across the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers.

Rescue 1122, the Pakistan Army, police, and district administrations are using boats to evacuate families and livestock. Hospitals across flood-hit areas are on emergency footing, with staff leaves cancelled.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif vowed full rehabilitation for victims: “Rehabilitating every family affected by the floods is my mission. We will provide all possible help until they return to their homes.”

Districts Under Water

• Daska: Nullah Eik overflowed, breaching embankments and threatening villages.

• Phoolnagar & Nankana Sahib: Inflows at Ravi Head Balloki surged to 100,000 cusecs, inundating dozens of villages.

• Burewala: Forced evacuations underway as Jhamlera faces imminent flooding.

• Chiniot: Officials warn of “biggest flood since 1992”, with one million cusecs expected to pass through; 1,800 people rescued.

• Phalia: A rescue boat capsized during operations, but personnel survived.

• Kasur: Villages submerged near Ganda Singhwala; many residents refuse to evacuate without livestock.

So far, 133 mauzas in Sialkot, 16 in Wazirabad, 20 in Gujrat, 12 in Mandi Bahauddin, and 52 in Jhang have been inundated.

Earlier,

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik has said that pressure on the Punjab rivers likely to increase.

Addressing a news conference, Lieutenant General Inamur Rahman stated that Pakistan is currently in the eighth and penultimate spell of rainfall for 2025. He reiterated that heavy precipitation has been recorded in northern Punjab and occupied Kashmir, with over 300 mm of rain around Jammu and 600 mm near Sialkot. Water flow in the Indus River remains normal up to Kalabagh, Chashma, and Taunsa.

He said: “Rainfall exceeded 300 mm around Jammu, while areas near Sialkot experienced up to 600 mm. The floodwaters have now entered Pakistan’s territory through the Sutlej, Chenab, and Ravi rivers.”

“The Chenab River at Head Marala peaked at 700,000 cusecs, presently decreasing to approximately 550,000 cusecs due to reduced rainfall in north-eastern areas. Flash floods and cloudbursts in occupied Kashmir have caused significant damage, submerging settlements and damaging infrastructure. Floodwaters from the Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers have now crossed into Pakistan’s borders,” the NDMA chairman.

https://www.ndma.gov.pk/

“At Head Khanki, a flood discharge of 1 million cusecs is causing increased pressure on Qadirabad in the coming days. Army engineers and PDMA Punjab are considering creating a breach to alleviate this pressure. Water levels between Khanki and Qadirabad are expected to remain constant over the next 24 hours,” he added.

The NDMA chief said, “A flood of 230,000 cusecs currently flows at the Ravi Jesar site, maintaining a pressure of 78,000 cusecs at Shahdara. This pressure is rising at Shahdara and Barki. Further rainfall is anticipated within 12 to 24 hours in Sialkot, Narowal, and Gujranwala, which will increase the strain on the rivers.”

He said, “Additionally, water has been released from Indian dams into the Sutlej, where heavy rainfall has also occurred. A significant flood of 250,000 cusecs is passing through Ganda Singh, comparable to the 250,000 to 300,000 cusecs flood of 2023, during which evacuation programmes were implemented.”

The chairman emphasised the need to relocate people to safe areas in the coming days. Approximately 200,000 residents living along the Sutlej have been evacuated with the assistance of the Pakistan Army, PDMA, and other rescue agencies. Priority remains to transfer people to secure locations and provide medical and other facilities until they can safely return. The Army Chief has already issued instructions to military formations.

Meanwhile, the NDMA chairman has also said that Pakistan is experiencing an unusual monsoon season, with shifting weather patterns now affecting the country’s plains. Lt Gen Malik stated that Pakistan has been under monsoon influence for the past eight to nine weeks, describing the weather conditions as part of a unique and evolving pattern.

“Flash floods occurred in mountainous regions, and the situation in Karachi also required close attention,” he said. ‘The monsoon has now reached the plains.’

“Pakistan contains the highest number of glaciers outside the polar regions. The rate of glacial melt has increased significantly,’ he added, citing expert predictions that up to 60 per cent of glaciers in the region may disappear over the next 50 to 60 years,” the NDMA chairman maintained.

The NDMA chief explained that the 2025 monsoon comprised two distinct phases: one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the second currently underway. He said April of this year was the hottest in 65 years, and the resulting heatwave accelerated glacial melt. In some areas, glacial lake outburst floods were reported.

Next 48 hours crucial NDMA issues flood alert for River Ravi

“So far in the 2025 monsoon season, 804 people have died and over 1,000 have sustained injuries. We shared relevant information with the provinces prior to the onset of the season,” Lt Gen Malik said.

He said that Indian-administered Kashmir recorded above-normal rainfall, with precipitation reaching up to 600 mm.

The Sutlej River’s water level, he confirmed, behaved as forecasted. “Approximately 200,000 people were relocated to safe areas, and all individuals in Kartarpur were evacuated without harm.”

“Rescue efforts remain ongoing in Marala, the Chenab belt, and other areas. The highest flood levels have been recorded in the Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab rivers,” he said.

The NDMA chairman said that floodwaters in Khanki and Qadirabad had reached nearly one million cusecs.

In Shahdara, he confirmed, a flow of 80,000 cusecs was recorded. He assured that the NDMA would continue to monitor the situation closely.

Heavy rainfall remains forecast in Sialkot, Narowal and Pasrur, which, according to the Chairman, may result in a further increase in water volume and flow across affected regions.

“All field formations must carry out their responsibilities effectively in their respective areas,” Lt Gen Malik stated. He said: “Relief camps have already been established for the provision of food and medicine.”

He said that accumulated floodwater is expected to form a flow of 500,000 to 700,000 cusecs at Panjnad.

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to visit disaster-affected areas tomorrow,” the NDMA chief added.

“We aim to begin preparations for next year’s monsoon. The projections show a 22 per cent increase in monsoon intensity in 2026,” he added.

The NDMA chairman said, “Pakistan remains the fifth most climate-affected country in the world. The NDMA’s National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has the capacity to forecast events up to ten months in advance.”

Lt Gen Malik said: “The 2025 monsoon response involved comprehensive national coordination. The NDMA receives input from more than 370 climate-monitoring satellites worldwide.”

Malik briefed the media on the national flood response and broader disaster preparedness measures on Tuesday.

He stated that the NDMA, in coordination with global partners, continues to monitor the situation closely. “NDMA is observing developments not only in Pakistan but also across the world,” he said.

The chairman said that the authority’s forecasting accuracy currently stands between 90 and 95 per cent.

Lt Gen Malik said the NDMA had coordinated with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab and completed its planning four to six weeks in advance.

“Each flood brings a distinct situation. No two are the same,’ he said, emphasising the dynamic nature of the threat,” he said.

He added that the Pakistan Armed Forces would remain responsible for all field-level operations, given their superior capacity and resources.

The infrastructure audit for Gilgit-Baltistan has already been completed, the NDMA chief added.

He said that a damage assessment for Punjab would be conducted once floodwaters recede from the province.

“People across the country are contacting the Prime Minister for support,” he said, adding that the scale of the humanitarian need.

In response to growing requests for aid, bank accounts have been opened in all major banks to facilitate donations and relief contributions for those affected.

Relief camps set up, emergency measures in place: Tarar

Federal Minister for Information Atta Tarar said on Wednesday that the NDMA, PDMAs and chief secretaries had been placed on alert to respond to the emergency.

He added that flood victims were receiving tents and other essential items, and that the prime minister had issued specific instructions in a recent meeting regarding the situation.

Tarar stated that the NDMA had briefed local authorities and administrative bodies and confirmed ongoing coordination efforts.

He also warned that water flow toward Qadirabad was expected to increase. “Water discharge from the Sutlej River has risen from Gandhara to Head Khanki,” he added.

Meanwhile, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Wednesday that two soldiers lost their lives and two others sustained injuries during flood relief efforts.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the ISPR chief stated that around 28,000 people had been rescued so far. He said flood response units had been mobilised in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

“No post in flood-affected areas has been abandoned,” he added. He said that a major rescue operation was under way in Kartarpur using boats.

He affirmed that the Pakistan Army and the people stood united, saying: “No malicious force can drive a wedge between them.”

He said that the Chief of Army Staff had issued directives to military formations to assist in flood operations.