ISLAMABAD: Floods in Punjab have affected nearly 3.9 million people and killed 46, with the southern city of Multan now under serious threat as waters surge down the Chenab River after weeks of heavy rains and dam releases from India, officials said Thursday.
Punjab, the country’s most populous province, has seen widespread destruction, with 1.8 million displaced and thousands of villages flooded as the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers overflowed. Nationwide, more than 883 people have died since the monsoon season began in late June, according to the NDMA.
PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia called the next 24 hours “extremely critical,” warning that while the Head Muhammad Wala barrage was stable for now, the Sher Shah Bridge flood gauge near Multan had almost reached maximum capacity. If breached, about 27 locations and 35,000 residents could be at risk.
Backwater flooding from the Ravi River has worsened stagnant water in Toba Tek Singh and Khanewal, while over 1.8 million people and 1.3 million animals have been evacuated with the help of the army and Rescue 1122.
Flows remained dangerously high on Thursday: the Chenab hit 507,000 cusecs at Qadirabad and 509,000 cusecs at Chiniot Bridge; the Ravi carried 128,000 cusecs at Balloki, and the Sutlej 335,000 cusecs at Ganda Singh Wala.
Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah warned his province was preparing for a potential “super flood” as inflows from Punjab converged.
