Lahore (Web Desk) — Punjab’s major rivers, Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab, have witnessed dangerous flooding, creating a critical situation. According to the Flood Forecasting Division, the water flow at Head Khanki on the River Chenab has crossed 1 million cusecs, while the barrage’s capacity is only 800,000 cusecs. Experts have warned that this excessive pressure could cause severe damage to the hydraulic structures.
Officials reported that the River Ravi at Shahdara and Jassar is facing its worst flood in 32 years, while the River Sutlej has recorded medium to high-level flooding at Ganda Singh Wala and Sulemanki. So far, no casualties have been reported, but more than 45,000 people have been affected.
Due to extremely high flood pressure at Qadirabad Headworks, the administration, under the supervision of the Pakistan Army, deliberately breached a protective embankment to save the barrage. Media reports confirm that explosives were used to cut through the right downstream bund, raising fears that several villages in Mandi Bahauddin may be submerged.
With the water level rising rapidly in the Ravi, Lahore’s low-lying areas around Shahdara and Motorway-2 are under threat. Civil Defence sounded alarms, while Rescue 1122 and Punjab Police personnel were deployed along the riverbanks. Assistant Commissioner Ravi, Syeda Sunbul Javed, visited the affected areas late at night.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned that large-scale flooding may hit several districts of Punjab. Continuous rains coupled with water released from Indian dams have made the situation “extremely critical.” Authorities have issued evacuation orders for low-lying areas, while the Meteorological Department has forecast more rains in northeastern Punjab and Kashmir over the next 24 hours.
Rumors of Lahore Sinking Are Baseless
Authorities stated that a major flood wave, with a volume of up to 8 million cusec feet, will pass through Shahdara, Lahore, tonight. Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Flood Emergency, Khawaja Salman Rafique, said that although India released water without prior intimation, all precautionary measures have been taken. He strongly denied rumors that Lahore is under threat of sinking.
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