Floods displace over 1.4 million people in Punjab, meteorologists predict more downpour

The Punjab government has initiated one of the largest evacuation operations in recent years, with more than 1.46 million people affected by widespread flooding across the province. Officials have raised alarms over the rising water levels in Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers.

So far, at least 17 people have lost their lives as rivers continue to overflow. Authorities describe the current floods as the most severe in four decades, with hundreds of villages devastated and vast areas of standing crops submerged.

At Qadirabad, the Chenab’s water flow has been recorded at over 305,000 cusecs.

The surge has forced officials to breach embankments in several areas to divert water and reduce pressure. More than 1,400 villages remain under water, and forecasts warn that up to 800,000 cusecs could pass through the Chenab within the next 48 hours.

Millions of people have been dispaced in multiple districts, including Jhang, Shorkot, Khanewal, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Shujaabad, Jalalpur Peerwala, and Alipur, where thousands of families relocated to safer ground.

Meanwhile, fresh weather disturbances are expected to intensify the crisis.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast another spell of heavy monsoon rains beginning August 29 and lasting through September 2.

Read more: Punjab deploys thermal drone tech to track flood victims

Strong monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, coupled with a westerly system, are likely to bring very heavy rainfall to many regions.

The Met Office has warned of prolonged downpours in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa districts.

Southern Punjab districts such as Multan, Bahawalpur, Rajanpur, and Rahim Yar Khan, as well as parts of Sindh and Balochistan, are also likely to experience heavy rainfall.

Authorities caution that flash floods, landslides, and urban flooding remain a serious risk in mountainous and low-lying areas. Relief agencies have been placed on high alert as rescue and evacuation efforts continue.