Lahore, September 3, 2025: Punjab is reeling under catastrophic floods as unprecedented water pressure in the Ravi and Chenab rivers has forced authorities to blow up protective embankments and divert water into rural settlements, leaving a trail of destruction across vast areas.
At Head Sidhnai on the Ravi River, the district administration demolished the Mai Safura embankment with explosives to prevent a major disaster. The drastic step, officials said, was taken to reduce mounting water pressure and save densely populated areas from collapse. But the move has redirected massive water flows toward nearby settlements, putting thousands of acres of fertile farmland at risk of submergence. Families have been ordered to evacuate, while rescue teams scramble to minimize casualties.
The situation in South Punjab is even more dire. A powerful flood surge from the Chenab River has swept into Multan Division, engulfing dozens of villages and destroying homes, crops, and infrastructure. At the Akbar Bund, water levels have risen by 3 to 4 feet, breaching protective embankments and causing extensive damage to surrounding houses. Hundreds of families have been displaced, many fleeing with little more than the clothes on their backs.
Authorities have sealed Head Muhammadwala Road and placed explosives to create deliberate cuts if needed to divert floodwater away from Multan city. Yet, the deluge has already submerged entire tracts of agricultural land. Maize, sesame, arvi, fodder, and orchards have been wiped out, dealing a severe blow to farmers and the region’s food supply.
In rural Multan, dozens of villages now lie completely underwater. Houses are collapsing under pressure, boundary walls are crumbling, and in Jhok Arabi, floodwater has invaded a government school building. Displaced communities are being shifted to makeshift tent cities as Rescue 1122 and Pakistan Army teams struggle to cope with the scale of the emergency.
Local leader Sikandar Hayat Bosan, who visited the affected areas, described the devastation as “unimaginable,” urging the government and welfare organizations to rush immediate relief. “Crops are gone, homes are gone — but the resilience of our people remains strong,” he said.
District administrations across Punjab remain on high alert, warning that if the water inflow continues unchecked, major urban centers, including Multan city, could face grave threats in the coming days. Citizens have been urged to stay vigilant and strictly follow evacuation orders.
The floods have already inflicted billions of rupees in damages, displacing thousands of families and threatening food security in the region — making this one of the most destructive flood events Punjab has faced in recent years.
