LAHORE – The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a flood warning as heavy monsoon rains are set to intensify across Punjab. Starting October 5, heavy rainfall is expected from Rawalpindi to Lahore, with daily rain likely to increase through October 7. DG PDMA Irfan Ali Kathia warned residents in vulnerable areas to stay alert and prepare for possible flooding.
According to PDMA, light showers have already hit Lahore and other parts of northeastern Punjab, bringing relief after a long dry spell. However, more intense rainfall—up to 70mm—is expected in north, northeast, and central Punjab over the next two days. The recent rains also caused temperatures to drop sharply, prompting a shift to warmer clothing across Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Read more: Punjab braces for heavy rainfall, flood risks
Meanwhile, flood damage continues to spread across 28 districts in Punjab. Over 4,795 villages have been affected, impacting more than 407,000 people and displacing over 612,000 residents. Relief camps across South Punjab are currently sheltering 106,000 individuals and 2 million animals. Crops in Gujrat and Faisalabad have suffered massive losses, including maize, rice, sugarcane, and cotton.
Rivers also pose a serious risk. At Head Marala, the Chenab is carrying 20,000 cusecs, with another 100,000 cusecs expected from India. Sutlej and Ravi rivers may also swell due to water releases. Mangla Dam is already at high capacity. PDMA has deployed 11,500 personnel, including army and district teams, to monitor and manage flood threats across 27 districts.
Read more: Floods keep Sindh, Punjab submerged as M-5 stays shut
The Punjab government is actively supporting victims. Relief cards have already helped 50,000 people. PDMA has launched a digital portal to resolve complaints within seven days. A total of 2,213 survey teams are assessing damage in real-time using an online dashboard. DG Kathia called this year’s flooding one of the most damaging in Pakistan’s recent history, surpassing even the 2010 disaster.