F.P. Report
LAHORE: The flood situation in Punjab has started to show signs of improvement, but Gujrat and Sialkot remain among the most severely affected districts in the north of the province, Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab Director General Irfan Ali Kathia confirmed during a press conference on Saturday.
Rescue operations continue
Kathia said that more than two million people have been rescued across Punjab, while over 1.5 million cattle have been shifted to safe places. A total of 423 flood relief camps have been established to provide food, shelter, and medical facilities.
He added that 132,495 people have received medical treatment so far. Tragically, 50 lives have been lost, and the Punjab government is providing Rs1 million assistance to each of the affected families.
Severe flooding in Gujrat, Sialkot
The PDMA chief highlighted that Gujrat city is facing a particularly severe flood situation, with rescue teams and heavy machinery working to drain water from populated areas. The situation in Gujrat is expected to improve in the next 12 to 18 hours, thanks to declining water levels and drainage efforts.
Sialkot has also been badly hit, with dozens of surrounding villages inundated. Overall, more than 4,000 villages have been affected across Punjab, while recent flooding in Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan has pushed the number of impacted areas to over 4,100.
Water flow in major rivers
Kathia provided detailed updates on river conditions:
- In the Sutlej River, water flow decreased after rains subsided in India. In the past 24 hours, 200,000 cusecs of water entered Pakistan, increasing to 303,000 cusecs at Ganda Singh Wala. If there is no rain, the water level in the Sutlej too will decrease.
- At Head Sulemanki, water levels are receding, with expectations of further decline if there is no new rain upstream.
- At Head Sidhnai in Ravi, 110,000 cusecs are passing, while 107,000 cusecs are flowing at Shahdara.
- In the Chenab River, the main flow is at Chiniot Bridge, with 412,000 cusecs at Head Trimmu.
- At Panjnad, water levels have reached 325,000 cusecs and are expected to merge into the Indus River within 24 hours.
Govt response, funding
Kathia confirmed that the Punjab chief secretary has released funds to support ongoing relief and rehabilitation work. PDMA teams, along with district administrations, are actively using machinery to clear waterlogged areas and restore normalcy.
He also noted that no new flood alerts have been issued for any river over the last 18 to 22 hours, a sign that the worst of the crisis may be easing. However, rain is forecast in several divisions, which could affect the pace of recovery.
