Live updates on Pakistan floods

Deputy Commissioner Lodhran Dr Lubna Nazir said that the city administration and Rescue agencies have completed arrangements in view of flooding in Sutlej River.

Talking to the Geo News, she said that as many as 24 flood relief camps comprising 214 rooms have been set up, adding these camps have been furnished with all facilities including edibles for the flood-affected people.

These camps have the capacity to house over 10,000 people, the government official said, adding three tent cities with over 400 tents are being built. 

The Flood Forecasting Division has reported a rise in the water level of the River Ravi at Shahdara, creating a high flood situation.

At Shahdara, the water flow has been recorded at 138,600 cusecs.

According to the Lahore Commissioner, a torrent of around 160,000 cusecs is expected to pass from Shahdara in the morning.

In Sialkot, the water level in the River Chenab at Head Marala has dropped noticeably, according to the Irrigation Department of the Punjab government.

The flow of water in the river has been recorded at 253,470 cusecs, the irrigation department said. 

In Hafizabad, the River Chenab near Qadirabad is in a torrential flow as the inflow and outflow of floodwater at Head Qadir have crossed 1,077,000 cusecs.

The torrent of floodwater has already deluged several villages. Rescue teams are working through the night to move people to safety from the affected villages, according to the Deputy Commissioner. 

Ravi Urban Development Authority’s (RUDA) Project Director, Rao Intizar Ali, said that a water torrent of 91,000 cusecs is passing through the Ravi River, adding, however, that the river has the capacity to handle up to 200,000 cusecs.

Speaking to Geo News about the flood situation in the river, he said that no area outside the river has been affected or flooded so far.

Ali said that the RUDA is also building a 600-foot-wide protective embankment along the Ravi to strengthen flood defences.

The United Nations has released $600,000 in emergency relief funds for Pakistan, the UN secretary-general’s spokesperson confirmed this week, as the death toll from deadly monsoon rains and floods across the country crossed 800.

“The [Pakistani] authorities are leading the response, with support from the United Nations and local partners,” Stephane Dujarric, the UN secretary-general’s spokesperson, told reporters during a media briefing on Monday. 

“Over the weekend, Tom Fletcher, our Emergency Relief Coordinator, released $600,000 from the regional pooled fund to support the ongoing efforts.”

Dujarric said that according to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Pakistanis affected by the flooding need shelter supplies, medical assistance, cash, hygiene kits, clean drinking water and education. 

At least seven people have lost their lives in Gujranwala Division due to flooding while three others are missing, Commissioner Naveed Haider confirmed on Wednesday.

According to the commissioner, three deaths were reported in Gujrat, two in Sialkot, and two more in Narowal and Gujranwala districts.

In Sialkot’s Sambrial area, three people are reported missing after being swept away by floodwaters.

The Pakistan Army has launched a relief operation in Sargodha's Kot Momin, one of the areas severely affected by the recent flooding in Punjab.

Army personnel set up a relief camp at Government High School Laksian, to provide shelter and assistance to the displaced population. Alongside the army, the district administration is also actively participating in the operation.

Three joint rescue teams of the Pakistan Army and local administration have been deployed in Midh Ranjha, Talibwala, and Hilalpur. The teams include trained swimmers and are equipped with two boats each, 30 life jackets, and other essential rescue gear.

In addition, tents have been installed to accommodate flood victims, where basic facilities are being provided. Residents expressed appreciation for the timely assistance and relief efforts, acknowledging the Pakistan Army’s commitment to stand with the people in this difficult time.

Giving river flow updates, NDMA chairman said the Indus River from Kalabagh to Taunsa and the Jhelum River up to Mangla are flowing normally.

In contrast, the Chenab River recorded a high flow of 700,000 cusecs at Marala last night, which has since reduced to 550,000 cusecs. At Khanki, a peak of one million cusecs is currently passing, and pressure is expected to build further at Qadirabad in coming days.

The chairman said water flow will remain intense between Khanki and Qadirabad for the next 12–14 hours, while low-level flooding continues at Head Trimmu. At the Ravi River, the flow is 230,000 cusecs at Jassar and 78,000 cusecs at Shahdara, where monitoring is under way.

Pressure is rising between Shahdara and Balloki, leading to medium-level flooding, and rainfall is expected to further raise pressure on these points in the coming days, particularly in Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala and adjoining areas.

On the Sutlej River, a major high-level flood of 250,000 cusecs is passing through Ganda Singh Wala, while the flow at Sulemanki is 100,000 cusecs and at Head Islam over 50,000 cusecs. “Residents near Sutlej River will need to be moved to safe locations in coming days,” he emphasised.

The NDMA chairman said flood-affected people are being relocated by the Pakistan Army, Rangers, Rescue 1122 and PDMA Punjab, with their treatment and rehabilitation prioritised.