ISLAMABAD: Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Irfan Ali Kathia has cautioned that over 70,000 cusecs of water could enter Pakistan from India in the coming days, heightening the risk of further flooding.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, he highlighted that heavy rainfall has been recorded across the region, with Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin receiving the most rain in the past 24 hours. He noted that while water levels at Ganda Singh Wala slightly receded after a dam broke in India, high flood levels persist at Head Sulemanki and Head Islam.
At Head Marala, around 175,000 cusecs of water are currently flowing, while Chiniot recently saw a peak of more than 800,000 cusecs, which has now dropped to about 650,000. To protect Jhang city, embankments were deliberately breached, averting major urban damage.
According to PDMA estimates, a massive inflow of 830,000 cusecs is expected at Trimu, while rising water levels in the Ravi and Sutlej rivers continue to pose a threat to downstream areas. At Head Muhammad Wala, where the Ravi converges with other rivers, flows of 700,000–800,000 cusecs may force further embankment cuts.
Kathia stressed that precautionary measures are being taken for public safety, with extensive rescue and relief operations already underway on what he described as an unprecedented scale in Punjab’s history. More than 800 boats and 13,000 rescue personnel, supported by the Pakistan Army, are engaged in relief efforts.
So far, floods have directly affected 966,000 people along the Chenab, 232,000 along the Ravi, and 313,000 along the Sutlej. Hundreds of relief camps have been established in affected districts, while in Lahore alone, food and shelter are being provided to 6,000–7,000 displaced people.
He confirmed that at least 30 people have lost their lives, mostly due to accidental causes. Kathia also pointed out the absence of a proper information-sharing system with India despite federal government efforts. He assured that once rescue operations conclude, comprehensive rehabilitation measures will be implemented to support flood-affected communities.
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