Lahore, September 4, 2025: Torrential rains and dangerous surges in the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers have unleashed widespread devastation across Punjab, submerging hundreds of villages, displacing millions, and destroying vast swathes of farmland.
According to the Flood Forecasting Division Punjab, exceptionally high flood levels were recorded at Head Sulemanki, Head Ganda Singh Wala, and Head Sidhnai, while the Chenab continues to rage at Head Khanki, Head Qadirabad, and Chiniot Bridge. The Ravi at Shahdara, Siphon, and Balloki has also crossed high flood thresholds. Meanwhile, Guddu, Sukkur, Kotri, and Panjnad barrages in Sindh are experiencing low to medium-level flooding.
In Kasur, the Sutlej river at Head Ganda Singh Wala carried a massive flow of 319,000 cusecs, submerging more than 100 villages including Nooriwala, Bhidian, and Usmanwala. Over 18,000 acres of farmland and 132 villages have been inundated, inflicting crop losses worth billions of rupees.
The situation worsened in Lodhran, Vehari, and Kabirwala, where protective embankments gave way, flooding dozens of villages. In Layyah’s Luddan area, floodwaters swept through schools and homes, with one elementary school building completely destroyed.
In Gujrat, a record 506 mm of rainfall in just 24 hours triggered severe urban flooding. Key intersections such as Kacheri Chowk, Gondal Chowk, Jail Chowk, and Zahoor Elahi Stadium were submerged under four feet of water. Several government offices, shops, and even the sessions court were inundated, paralyzing daily life.
The Chenab’s surge has also devastated areas near Jhang, Chiniot, Kot Momin, and Shorkot, where rescue teams, aided by the army, are evacuating stranded families. In Multan, floodwaters reached the railway bridge, forcing thousands to relocate.
Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed that at least 46 lives have been lost so far, while more than 3.5 million people have been directly affected. Nearly 4,000 villages have been submerged, forcing 1.5 million people into rescue shelters, while more than 1 million livestock have been relocated.
“The Chenab’s waters will again hit already-affected areas near Qadirabad and Jhang, worsening the crisis,” warned PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia. He added that a flood wave carrying 900,000 cusecs is expected to enter Sindh on the night of September 6–7.
Agriculture has suffered catastrophic losses. More than 1.326 million acres of crops across Punjab have been wiped out. Faisalabad Division is the hardest-hit with damage to over 323,000 acres, followed by Gujranwala (262,000 acres) and Gujrat (238,000 acres). Crops in Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, and Lahore divisions have also been devastated.
With more monsoon rains forecast, authorities warn that floodwaters could continue to rise in southern Punjab and Sindh. Emergency teams remain on high alert as millions of displaced people await relief.
