India has once again contacted Pakistan through diplomatic channels, warning of a potential flood situation in the Sutlej River. According to the Ministry of Water Resources, information received from India on Wednesday has been shared with 28 key departments, with directives to take immediate precautionary measures.
Reports indicate that the Indian High Commission in Islamabad alerted Pakistan about the risk of extremely high flood levels at Ferozepur and Harike points on the Sutlej, as well as high flood threats in the Tawi River at Jammu.
Meanwhile, floodwaters continue to swell rivers across Punjab. In Kabirwala’s Abdul Hakim area, water levels at Head Sidhnai on the Ravi River are steadily rising, while the Chenab River is also witnessing an alarming increase. Head Sidhnai, with a capacity of 150,000 cusecs, is now discharging beyond its limit. To protect the structure, embankments at Mai Saforan have been deliberately breached at two points, inundating nearby areas.
The situation worsened as three embankments on the Sutlej River collapsed in Lodhran and Bahawalpur, causing extensive damage. Explosives were reportedly used to blow up the Mai Saforan protective embankment, leaving 30 villages in Kabirwala and 7 villages in Pir Mahal severely affected. Thousands of acres of crops have been destroyed, while residents face immense hardship. In Vehari alone, over 65,000 people have been impacted, while in Tandlianwala, 30 villages have gone under water.
In Multan, floodwaters from the Chenab River have entered the city. Water levels at Akbar Flood Embankment have risen by four feet, forcing authorities to place explosives at Head Muhammad Wala to create controlled breaches. The road at Head Muhammad Wala has been closed to traffic due to mounting pressure.
Elsewhere, devastating floods have hit Chiniot and Jhang, submerging 150 and 261 villages respectively. In Muzaffargarh, more than 24 villages in Rangpur have been inundated, while thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate Rangpur town amid growing flood threats.