Chishtian, August 28, 2025 – The relentless rise in the Sutlej River has unleashed destruction across southern Punjab, breaching at least six safety dams in Chishtian and flooding hundreds of surrounding villages.

According to local sources, more than 300 villages have been inundated, leaving thousands of residents displaced. Crops standing on nearly 7,000 acres of farmland have been washed away, raising fears of severe agricultural losses in the region.

Farmers in the area, facing a desperate situation, constructed an 8-kilometer-long makeshift embankment with their own resources. They describe it as their final line of defense. “If this barrier gives way, nearly 20,000 homes will be swallowed by floodwaters,” one farmer said, visibly anxious about the looming threat.

Rescue operations have struggled to keep pace with the devastation. Many settlements remain cut off, while boats and emergency teams attempt to reach those marooned. Officials confirmed that over 5,000 people and their livestock have so far been evacuated to safer areas.

The crisis is not limited to Chishtian. In Gujrat, hundreds of acres of fertile land have gone underwater. Villagers, with little external support, are seen leading their livestock to higher ground. While the flow of water in the Chenab River has begun to recede, authorities caution that recovery efforts will take time.

In Bahawalnagar, the flood situation remains precarious. Authorities report a dangerously high inflow of 261,000 cusecs at Head Ganda Singh, classified as a “very high flood,” while Head Sulemanki recorded 199,000 cusecs, categorized as medium flood level. Rising water under the Baba Farid and Bhukan Patan bridges has already submerged 105 villages, displacing nearly 150,000 residents.

An estimated 90,000 people have been forced to migrate on their own, as temporary dams built by locals have also collapsed, washing away more homes and standing crops. The scale of destruction has left many questioning whether official rescue and relief efforts will be sufficient to meet the mounting crisis.

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