Web desk: A powerful flood wave in the Chenab River has caused widespread destruction after hitting Sialkot, Wazirabad and Chiniot, and has now entered Jhang district.
Rescue officials said that 135 villages in Jhang are underwater, with many residents trapped inside their homes. Rescue teams are working to evacuate them.
Traffic on Sargodha Road has been badly disrupted as two to three feet of water has submerged the route.
According to the irrigation department, a flood wave carrying one million cusecs of water is expected to pass through Multan by this evening.
Low-lying areas are likely to be severely affected. Heavy rainfall in Gujranwala, Wazirabad and Chiniot has worsened the flooding, destroying crops spread over hundreds of acres.
The situation in Multan has also turned serious as floodwaters entered farmlands in Shujabad tehsil, leaving 140 villages submerged.
In Muzaffargarh, authorities have warned of a very high flood in the Chenab River. Thousands of acres of fish farms are at risk of being washed away, prompting farmers to start emptying their ponds to reduce losses.
Internet services stayed suspended in many flood-hit areas of Punjab on Saturday, making communication difficult and slowing down relief efforts.
Is the Sindh Rain and Flood Emergency Monitoring Cell operational?
The Sindh Rain and Flood Emergency Monitoring Cell has been made fully operational at the Sindh Secretariat, provincial government spokesperson Mustafa Abdullah Baloch said.
He explained that complaints from the public will be forwarded to the relevant departments, and the cell is monitoring the situation round-the-clock.
The irrigation, health and PDMA departments, along with other institutions, are actively working on relief measures. Provincial ministers are also visiting affected areas to review conditions on the ground.
River conditions are changing quickly. People are advised to stay alert and follow official instructions.
Read more: Live Updates: Punjab flood situation