Web desk: A severe water crisis has emerged in Pakistan due to India releasing water into the rivers without prior notice. High-level flooding has been recorded in the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers, submerging dozens of riverside villages and destroying crops over thousands of acres. Emergency measures have been declared in several districts.
According to the Meteorological Department and PDMA, the Sutlej River is experiencing high-level flooding at Ganda Singh Wala, while Head Suleimanki is facing moderate flooding.
دریائے راوی میں آئندہ 48 گھنٹوں میں انتہائی اونچے درجے کے سیلاب کا خطرہ۔۔۔ pic.twitter.com/vQononP0fG
— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) August 26, 2025
Flood situation in Punjab:
Floods have hit eastern Punjab along the Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab rivers. Pakistan has evacuated about 150,000 people from danger zones.
The major cities and districts along the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers in Pakistan, which are currently at risk of flooding, include Lahore, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, Raiwind, and Pattoki along the Ravi; Bahawalpur, Pakpattan, Okara, Sahiwal, and Vehari along the Sutlej; and Gujranwala, Wazirabad, Sialkot, Gujrat, Jhang, and Chiniot along the Chenab.
These cities are all situated on the rivers’ floodplains or near irrigation canals fed by them, making them highly vulnerable to the ongoing floods. Kasur saw over 14,000 evacuations, while Bahawalnagar had more than 89,000. Medium to high floods are threatening the farming belt.
What is the flood situation in Ravi River
The flow of the Ravi River at Jassar is continuously increasing, rising from high-level flooding to very high-level flooding. In the Ravi River at Kot Nainaan, water flow has reached 210,000 cusecs, while at Jassar, the flow was recorded at 142,020 cusecs.
Currently, a high-level flood wave is passing through the Ravi River. So far, 257 people have been rescued from various locations, including Kartarpur.
What is the flood situation in Chenab River
The Chenab River is expected to rise to 550,000–600,000 cusecs, the Ravi at Jassar to 200,000 cusecs, and the Sutlej at GS Wala to 280,000 cusecs in the next 12 hours. Immediate evacuation is advised for areas vulnerable to Chenab flooding.
What is the flood situation in Sialkot
Flooding worsened after India released extra water into Pakistan’s rivers, causing the Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej to surge and leading to breaches in Narowal, Sialkot, and Shakargarh.
According to the Deputy Commissioner (DC), more than 355 millimetres of rain was recorded in the city over the past 24 hours. The district administration reported that the flow of water in Nullah Dekh has reached 77,000 cusecs, leading to a situation of very high-level flooding.
They said that flooding in Nullah Dekh has submerged several villages, with residents being shifted to safer locations.
Currently, a high-level flood wave is passing through the Ravi River. So far, 257 people have been rescued from various locations, including Kartarpur. The situation worsened after India released large amounts of water.
🚨 شمال مشرقی پنجاب کی صورتحال خراب ہوگئی!
— PakWeather (@Pak_Weather) August 26, 2025
سیالکوٹ میں 350-400 ملی میٹر⚡ بارش ریکارڈ۔۔
اودھم پور میں 522 ملی میٹر بارش، بھارت سے سیلابی ریلے پاکستان کی جانب، پُل بہہ گئے گھر ڈوب گئے!
دریاؤں کی سطح خطرناک حد سے بھی زیادہ!! pic.twitter.com/gYuzqo9N8G
Which areas are most affected by Punjab floods?
Flood situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP):
Flash floods devastated Buner District after a cloudburst. More than 200–300 people were killed in these circumstances. Many homes, villages and roads were washed away; the damage was tremendous.
Flood situation in Sindh:
Karachi experienced urban flooding following heavy rainfall, with roads and cars submerged in areas including North Nazimabad, Safoora, Clifton, and Liaquatabad. Authorities have also issued warnings for other cities such as Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Mirpurkhas, and Sukkur, where additional rainfall may lead to further flooding
Flood situation in Northern Areas (Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir):
Heavy rain has caused landslides and flooding from glacier lakes, while accelerated glacier melt has worsened the situation. Several deaths have been reported in Gilgit-Baltistan due to these floods.
Before this, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a weather alert warning of heavy rainfall in multiple districts of Punjab and Azad Kashmir.
According to NDMA, significant rains are expected in Punjab’s Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, and Kasur districts. Over the next 12 to 24 hours, torrential rainfall is also anticipated in Jhelum, Chakwal, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, and Pakpattan.
Authorities and residents are urged to stay alert, follow official updates, and take all necessary precautions as rivers continue to swell and the risk of severe flooding increases.
Read more: PDMA warns of ‘very high’ flood levels in Punjab rivers over next 48 hours
