MULTAN: Authorities, including the administration, military, and rescue services, have been placed on high alert as a massive flood of around 800,000 cusecs is expected to enter the Multan region on Monday .
Reports indicate that India has released a huge volume of water into the Chenab River by opening all spillway gates of the Salal Dam, resulting in the discharge of around 800,000 cusecs downstream. This has triggered severe flooding in Punjab’s low-lying areas.
According to the Flood Forecasting Division, the water flow at Head Trimmu has reached 550,000 cusecs, categorized as a very high flood level.
Commissioner Multan confirmed that a flow of 40,000 cusecs has already entered the district. He warned that by this evening, nearly 800,000 cusecs of water could pass through Multan, with 700,000 cusecs from Head Trimmu and 90,000 cusecs from the Ravi River converging.
The Head Muhammad Wala Barrage has a capacity of 1 million cusecs, but officials cautioned that a controlled breach may be made if necessary to reduce pressure. Heavy machinery has been deployed, and all relevant departments remain on standby.
The situation in the Ravi River is also alarming. At Head Balloki, water flow has reached 162,000 cusecs, while at Head Sadhnai it was recorded at 89,000 cusecs—both classified as very high floods. At Jassar, the river is experiencing a low-level flood, while at Shahdara, the level has been categorized as a medium flood.
On the other hand, the water level is high in the river Sutlej. A rally of 200,000 cusecs is passing through the site of Okara's Mari Pattan, leaving 35 villages under water. Syedwala Nankana Road has been closed for traffic and many villages have been disconnected.
A breach in the Zamindara embankment near the Sutlej Empress Bridge has caused floodwaters to enter nearby settlements. Rescue teams are actively engaged in relocating affected residents to safer locations.
According to Punjab Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, the death toll from flood-related incidents across the province has risen to 35.
