The situation continues to worsen, leaving thousands in urgent need of shelter, food, and medical assistance.

At least 20 people have been killed and dozens remain missing as three of Punjab’s major rivers, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej, continue to swell to dangerous levels.

The surging floodwaters from the River Chenab entered Jhang, where authorities resorted to controlled explosions at the 120-year-old Rewas Bridge embankments, creating three breaches in an attempt to divert pressure away from the city.

Despite these efforts, the furious torrent, recorded at over 850,000 cusecs, is now racing toward southern Punjab, with forecasts suggesting it will reach Multan within the next 24 to 48 hours.

Rivers rage across Punjab

The flood first tore through Hafizabad and Chiniot districts, wiping out scores of villages.

In Hafizabad’s Qadirabad area, 150 settlements were submerged, while the rising waters at Head Qadirabad inundated another 75 villages.

In Chiniot, the Sargodha-Jhang Road went underwater before rescue teams evacuated 400 people from nearby villages.

In Jhang, more than 140 villages were evacuated, with over 100,000 people shifted to safer grounds.

But as floodwaters pushed toward the urban centre, officials breached the Rewas Bridge, built in 1905, to divert the torrent.

According to the deputy commissioner, the breaches are expected to spread water into nearby villages and reduce pressure at the critical Trimmu Headworks, though a five-kilometre railway track has also been damaged.

Officials warned that after Jhang, the flood wave is expected to move toward Multan and Muzaffargarh, making the next two days critical.

To shield Multan’s population, authorities have decided to cut embankments at Head Muhammadwala.

Widespread displacement and disease fears

The flooding has left thousands without shelter, forcing families to seek refuge along motorways.

Relief agencies reported acute shortages of food and the spread of skin diseases in flood-hit areas.

The Army, Rangers, and rescue teams are operating hundreds of boats to evacuate stranded people.

The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said 1,769 villages are currently underwater, and nearly 27,000 people have been forced to relocate.

So far, over 45,000 people have been rescued across 30 districts, including Gujrat, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Narowal, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Kasur, Okara, and Pakpattan.

More than 2,300 livestock have also been moved to safe shelters.

Seven official relief camps have been set up under the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, providing food, medical aid, and temporary accommodation.

India releases more water

Compounding the crisis, Indian authorities have released additional water into the Jhelum River after earlier outflows into the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab.

The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) of Azad Kashmir reported that nearly 19,700 cusecs entered Pakistan near Chakothi along the Line of Control, with the flow rising to 42,664 cusecs by midday.

Authorities in Muzaffarabad and surrounding districts have been placed on high alert as water levels rise rapidly, with warnings issued for residents near riverbanks to move to safer areas.

Ravi flood shows a slight decline

Meanwhile, the Ravi River, which reached a peak of 220,000 cusecs at Shahdara, has started to recede, though many neighbourhoods in Lahore remain inundated.

Boats are operating in parts of Park View Society and Shahdara, while several housing colonies, including Badami Bagh and Shafiqabad, remain under floodwaters.

Rescue operations are continuing in Talat Park, Babu Sabu, and nearby areas, with metro bus stations shut down due to submerged tracks.

Authorities have declared several areas of Sheikhupura and Kasur “high-risk,” including Kot Abdul Malik, Phool Nagar, and Khanke.

In Nankana Sahib, residents have been evacuated as water levels at Head Balloki continue to rise.

PDMA figures confirm alarming flow rates

According to PDMA data, water flow in the Chenab at Marala Headworks stands at 116,000 cusecs, at Khanki 184,000, at Qadirabad 196,000, at Chiniot Bridge a staggering 842,000, and at Trimmu 129,000 cusecs.

In the Ravi, water flow is decreasing at Shahdara and Siphon but increasing at Balloki, where the current stands at 163,000 cusecs.

In the Sutlej, the flow at Ganda Singh Wala is 287,000 cusecs, while Islam Headworks has recorded 60,814 cusecs.

PDMA chief Irfan Ali Kathia said that all institutions remain on high alert, but noted that India’s sudden water releases without prior notification have severely aggravated the crisis.

Which cities remain at risk?

Authorities have identified multiple urban centres at high risk from ongoing floods.

In the Chenab basin, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Pindi Bhattian, Sargodha, Mandi Bahauddin, Chiniot, and Jhang face the greatest threat.

Along the Ravi, Lahore’s Kot Mando, Aziz Colony, Qaiser Town, and Faisal Park are vulnerable, while floodwaters are also heading toward Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, and Khanewal.

In the Sutlej basin, Kasur, Pakpattan, Phool Nagar, Okara, and Bahawalnagar are under emergency watch.

Both PDMA and NDMA have urged residents in at-risk areas to move to higher ground immediately.

Leaders conduct aerial surveys

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and CM Maryam Nawaz conducted aerial surveys of Narowal, Sialkot and Kartarpur, while Maryam also inspected Shahdara aboard a rescue boat.

Accompanied by senior ministers, she praised the timely response of the administration and rescue agencies, saying that without swift action, the scale of devastation would have been far greater.

The NDMA has issued an urgent alert, urging residents of vulnerable areas to move to safer locations without delay.