Punjab evacuates thousands as Sutlej River hits dangerous flood levels Pakistan’s provincial Punjab government initiated large-scale evacuations on Saturday as the Sutlej River surged to a high flood level at Ganda Singh Wala, recording a dangerous flow of 129,866 cusecs.
This comes ahead of an intense monsoon spell forecast from August 24 to 27, which has raised concerns of further flooding across the province. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) swiftly activated emergency operations, mobilizing rescue teams and coordinating with local authorities to relocate thousands of people in flood-prone areas along the riverbanks.
According to a report from the Board of Revenue, the situation at Ganda Singh Wala is critical and expected to persist for at least the next 48 hours. In response, district administrations in central and southern Punjab worked around the clock to evacuate residents from the affected zones. Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmad confirmed that over 19,000 people had been relocated from flood-hit areas, with a high alert issued for Kasur, Okara, Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, and Vehari districts.
“Over 19,947 people have been safely evacuated from areas adjacent to the Indus, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej, and Jhelum rivers,” Ahmad said. Khawaja Salman Rafique, provincial minister and chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Disaster Management, emphasized the urgency of the evacuations, stating, “The priority is to evacuate populations from the riverbeds of Sutlej and Ravi.
We are utilizing all available resources to safeguard citizens.” The PDMA continues to monitor the situation closely as authorities brace for the impact of the anticipated monsoon spell.