A high-level flood alert was issued in Punjab after India shared information about fresh releases of water into Pakistani rivers.
The fresh wave of floods came as the water after devastating the province during the last two weeks, headed to Sindh where the authorities braced for a surge of more than 800,000 cusecs at Guddu Barrage on September 9 (tomorrow).
The situation in Punjab still remained precarious floods came in waves in the three major rivers — Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab — mainly because of discharges coming from India. authorities said that situation was critical, particularly in Gujrat.
A similar situation was witnessed in the southern Punjab, where army was called out in Jalalpur Pirwala for a massive evacuation operation. Last night, a 70-year-old woman, and four children died in the area, when a rescue boat, they were onboard, capsized in the flood water.
“The Indian High Commission informed Pakistan that water flow in the Sutlej River would rise further,” a spokesperson for the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), said. “The Sutlej is already experiencing high-level flooding at Harike downstream and Ferozepur downstream.”
Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabil Javed warned that by September 9, extremely high-level flooding is feared in the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers.
Officials in Multan, meanwhile, confirmed that the Army had been called in to assist rescue efforts in Jalalpur Pirwala, where 14 Army boats, eight Rescue 1122 boats, and five private boats provided by police are part of ongoing operations to rescue stranded residents.
At Mauza Bait Malanwali, a flood embankment breached during the night, inundating several settlements. Rising water levels left men, women, and children trapped in the floodwater, with many climbing trees to save their lives.
Earlier, speaking to media in Lahore, PDMA chief Irfan Kathia said that the province iwas experiencing its 10th monsoon spell, which would continue until September 9. “The Gujrat district has been facing a severe emergency for the past 24 hours due to heavy rains,” he added.
