After wreaking havoc in upper and central Punjab, floodwaters from the River Indus have now entered many villages in Sindh, submerging homes and destroying crops. The river is in high flood at Guddu Barrage, Sukkur Barrage, and Kotri Barrage, leading to serious flooding in nearby areas.
At Guddu, the inflow has crossed 612,000 cusecs, with an outflow of more than 582,000 cusecs. In just the last 24 hours, the water level rose by over 67,000 cusecs, and it is expected to rise even more in the coming hours. At Sukkur, the river is flowing at 470,000 cusecs, while Kotri Barrage has recorded 262,000 cusecs.
In Kandiaro, the River Indus burst its banks, flooding dozens of villages and damaging crops grown over thousands of acres. Roads connecting the villages have been cut off, and people are trapped in their homes. Locals are appealing to the government for help and asking for rescue teams to be sent urgently.
In Ubauro, floodwaters have entered many villages, and the administration has advised residents to leave their homes and move to safer places along with their cattle. Crops in the area have also been washed away.
The situation in southern Punjab is also worsening, with many road links destroyed. The Jalalpur Pirwala Interchange has been closed, making it difficult for travelers heading to Sukkur and Karachi. In Shujaabad, several villages were flooded after a protective dyke collapsed, leaving many people homeless.
Meanwhile, the River Sutlej is still in flood in parts of Bahawalpur, with water levels high at several locations, including Empress Bridge, Ganda Singh Wala, Mailsi, and Head Islam.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has warned of more rain from September 16 to 19, which may cause more flooding. Officials have been placed on alert across Punjab at the direction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. Departments such as Health, Irrigation, Local Government, and Livestock have been asked to stay prepared for emergencies. People are being advised to avoid going near rivers and to stay safe indoors during the expected storms.
In a major relief step, the federal government has waived August electricity bills for flood-hit areas. Those who have already paid will receive refunds or adjustments in their next bill. Federal Minister for Power Awais Leghari thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the decision and said that a larger relief package would be announced soon. The PM said the government will continue rescue and rehabilitation work until every displaced person returns home safely.
