India Releases 800,000 Cusecs of Water, Punjab on High Alert

Lahore — Flood devastation in Punjab has worsened after India released another 800,000 cusecs of water from Salal Dam, prompting authorities to place 15 districts on high alert. The floodwaters are expected to reach Head Marala within two days, threatening vast agricultural lands and densely populated areas.

Officials confirmed that all gates of Salal Dam were opened, intensifying the risk of flooding in districts adjoining the Chenab River, including Gujranwala, Sialkot, Wazirabad, Sambrial, Gujarat, and Khanki.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the flood passing through Punjab is one of the largest in history, with downstream areas like Multan and Khanewal expected to be affected in the next 24 hours.

Meteorologists warned that the arrival of floodwaters on September 2, coupled with ongoing monsoon rains, could exacerbate the crisis.

Flooding has already submerged villages, homes, and farmlands across Punjab:

• Chiniot: Over 144 villages inundated, with water rising up to 10 feet. Evacuations are underway, but dozens of settlements remain underwater.

* Chenab River (Jhang, Multan, Chiniot)
Jhang: In Jhang alone, 180 villages were inundated, destroying crops and cutting off road links.

• Multan: At least 140 villages in Shujaabad tehsil were hit as the Chenab and Ravi rivers surged. Authorities anticipate 800,000 cusecs of water passing through Multan.
• Bahawalpur: Floodwaters from the Sutlej River breached seven dams, submerging thousands of acres of crops.
• Faisalabad & Sahiwal: Hundreds of acres of farmland washed away; several homes destroyed. Over 1,500 people shifted to relief camps.

In Arifwala, a wedding procession (barat) was trapped in floodwaters but later rescued by boats. In Jhelum, children stranded on a madrasa rooftop were evacuated safely.

Flood victims in affected districts, including women and children, are spending nights under the open sky. Villagers are appealing to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for urgent relief supplies, including food, shelter, and medical aid.

Heavy rains in Lahore, Narowal, Nankana Sahib, Wazirabad, and Gujarat worsened the crisis, flooding low-lying neighborhoods and disrupting electricity. In Lahore, areas around Ravi Bridge, Gulberg, Mall Road, and Garhi Shahu are submerged.

Health officials fear outbreaks of epidemic diseases as stagnant water continues to spread.

The Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers remain at dangerous flood levels. Reports confirm that 1,169 villages along the Chenab, 478 along the Ravi, and 391 along the Sutlej have been affected.

Experts warn that the combination of India’s water release and relentless rains is creating the worst flood crisis in Punjab’s history, with millions displaced, thousands of homes destroyed, and agricultural losses running into billions.