As neighboring India releases more water into the rivers, Pakistan’s Punjab province, which is already reeling from widespread destruction, could face even worse flood situation. The floodwaters are moving downstream toward the Indus River, which could lead to significant damage in the Sindh.
The heavy flooding is not only affecting Punjab in Pakistan but also Punjab in India, disrupting daily life. Similarly, a devastating earthquake struck Afghanistan yesterday, killing over 800 people. It is fair to say that the South Asian region is currently suffering badly from natural disasters.
Where exactly is the flood in Punjab right now?
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), a major flood surge in the Chenab River is moving toward southern Punjab. The next two to four hours near Head Sadhnai, close to Khanewal, are considered critical.
Officials say the floodwaters will reach Head Muhammadwala in Multan by evening. Dynamite has been installed at key locations to create controlled breaches to manage the flood pressure.
Thousands of people are at risk due to the situation. Meanwhile, extremely high flood levels persist at Head Trimmu, and there is also a threat of severe flooding at Harrikey and Ferozepur.
PDMA has warned of very high flood levels in the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers until September 5. High flood levels continue at Ganda Singh.
پی ڈی ایم اے پنجاب کی جانب سے دریائے ستلج، راوی، چناب اور ندی نالوں میں انتہائی اونچے درجے کے سیلاب کا الرٹ جاری۔ عوام کو احتیاطی تدابیر اختیار کرنے اور ایمرجنسی کی صورت میں ہیلپ لائن 1129 پر رابطہ کرنے کی ہدایت۔”#PDMAPunjab #FloodAlert #Punjab #StaySafe #EmergencyPreparedness pic.twitter.com/yS1zwaltxr
— PDMA Punjab Official (@PdmapunjabO) September 1, 2025
According to the Provisional Disaster Management Authority’s report, 3,243 villages and localities have been affected by the floods, with over 2.45 million people impacted so far.
Tent cities have been set up near the homes of flood victims across Punjab. Authorities report that thousands of villages across 32 districts have been affected by floods in five rivers, with more than 3,000 rescue workers and over 800 boats actively involved in relief efforts.
Before the arrival of the flood surges, over 900,000 people and more than 600,000 livestock were relocated to safe locations. In the last 24 hours, 21,620 people in Punjab have been safely evacuated.
Where do the rivers meet?
Five rivers originating in India are part of the Indus Basin system: Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Jhelum, and Chenab. These rivers converge at a place called Panjnad, forming the Panjnad River, which soon joins the Indus River.
The Indus River begins near Lake Mansarovar in Tibet. It flows through occupied Kashmir, then enters Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near Gilgit-Baltistan’s Skardu district, continuing through areas including Besham.
After entering KP, it reaches the Tarbela Dam, where the Kabul River joins it. From there, the river flows through Kalabagh, then passes through the Chashma and Taunsa barrages to reach Sukkur. The five rivers—Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum—travel about 71 kilometers as the Panjnad River before merging with the Indus near Mithankot.
From there, the river passes through Guddu and Sukkur barrages and travels 3,180 kilometers before emptying into the Arabian Sea near Kotri.
When will the flood enter Sindh?
After Punjab, there is a looming threat of flooding in Sindh. The provincial government says it is prepared to deal with the disaster.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah stated that, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 800,000 to 1.1 million cusecs (cubic feet per second) of water will enter Sindh. He emphasized that saving human lives is the top priority, followed by the protection of livestock.
بھارت کی جانب سے چھوڑا گیا 12 سے 13 لاکھ کیوسک پانی گڈو بیراج تک پہنچنے کا خدشہ ہے، 5.5 لاکھ کیوسک پانی پہلے ہی بغیر کسی نقصان کے سکھر اور کوٹری بیراج سے گزر چکا ہے، وزیر اعلیٰ سندھ سید مراد علی شاہ#PPPReliefEfforts pic.twitter.com/9j0Skt7qWf
— Sindh Information Department (@sindhinfodepart) September 2, 2025
Murad Ali Shah also warned that water released by India, estimated at 1.2 to 1.3 million cusecs, might reach the Guddu barrage. So far, 550,000 cusecs of water have passed through the Sukkur and Kotri barrages without causing damage.
این ڈی ایم اے کا کہنا ہے کہ آٹھ سے گیارہ لاکھ کیوسک پانی سندھ میں داخل ہوگا۔ ہماری پہلی ترجیح انسانی جانوں کو بچانا اور اس کے بعد مال مویشی کو بچانا ہے۔
وزیر اعلی سندھ سید مراد علی شاه کی سینئر صوبائی وزیر شرجیل انعام میمن کے ہمراہ کراچی میں پریس کانفرنس pic.twitter.com/CYD7yW7VyX— Sindh Information Department (@sindhinfodepart) September 1, 2025
NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider has also warned of the flood threat in Sindh. During a briefing in Islamabad two days ago, he said the pressure in the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers remains high, and it is expected that by September 4 or 5, a large surge of water will reach the Guddu and Sukkur barrages. This surge could range from a minimum of 700,000 to 800,000 cusecs to a maximum of 1.2 to 1.3 million cusecs.
