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.
