Daily Times

Over 53,000 people from 21 districts in the vicinity of Sutlej River were directed on Saturday to immediately evacuate the riverine belt, while more than 10,000 people living in the vicinity were already evacuated to higher grounds after an unprecedented flood in 35 years was reported as India continues to release water.

Flash flooding of the river due to dangerously high water levels has also claimed the life of at least one person thus far. Faiz Ahmed, a resident of Baili Kalan drowned while herding cattle from the Hathar area. His body was retrieved by rescue officials.

According to the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD), the river is at an “extremely high flood level” at Ganda Singh Wala and will remain at this critical state. It said River Sutlej at Sulemanki Headworks is anticipated to attain a “high to very high flood level” at the Sulemanki Headworks in the next 24 hours. Similarly, the Islam Headworks is expected to witness a high flood level from Aug 22 onwards. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Naqvi said “278,000 cusecs of water” is rushing near the Ganda Singh border in Kasur and the government was closely monitoring the situation. The water, he continued, was discharged from the Indian side. “Visited flood-affected areas and relief camps today. Appreciation for district Administration, Rescue 1122, Police, and Irrigation teams for their 24/7 efforts over the past 3 days. “This flood is unprecedented in 35 years, but our teams are on the ground, dedicated to securing and helping our people. Insha Allah, we’ll get through this together,” the chief minister added.

Evacuations continued from Lalika, Chavika, Wazirka, Kot Makhdoom, Bonga Ehsan, Kaku Bodla, Pir Sikandar, Kalia Shah, Jodhika and other nearby areas after the warning. Moreover, the district administration in Bahawalnagar has established 19 flood relief camps and 11 rescue points. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued a warning and said that India is likely to release more water until August 20. The Irrigation Department added that the embankments of River Sutlej at Kangan Chowki after which the water entered the nearby villages and destroyed thousands of acres of crops. Moreover, Bahawalpur’s district commissioner said that flood will enter the limits of the city in the next 36 to 48 hours. He said that more than 200,000 cusecs of flood relief are expected. The DC stated that over 200,000 people live on the banks of the river while 38 villages of five tehsils of the district are under threat of flood.