LAHORE: Floods in Punjab continue to keep life at standstill, as the district administration has announced closure of all educational institutions in several districts.
As per the notification, schools to remain closed in Sialkot on August 29 and 30 due to severe flooding in the province.
The Deputy Commissioner stated in the notification that torrential rains and rising water levels in the major rivers have caused damage in several parts of the district.
Earlier, the civil administration ordered the closure of schools in several flood-hit districts of Punjab to protect students and staff. According to officials, all public and private schools in Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat and Pasrur will remain closed from 27 August until further notice.
Deputy Commissioner Sialkot, Saba Asghar Ali, issued a notification stating “In order to ensure the safety of students, teachers and staff amid torrential rains and flooding, all schools in Sialkot district will remain closed on 27 August 2025. The closure will stay in effect until further review.”
Heads of educational institutions have been directed to suspend all academic and co curricular activities on campus. The order stressed strict enforcement by authorities. Residents were also advised to remain indoors, avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from rivers and streams due to the risk of flooding.
District authorities also declared a public holiday on Wednesday in Gujrat and Sialkot as the flood situation worsened.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Punjab warned of possible urban flooding until September 2 and directed authorities to stay on alert.
As per details, the PDMA head stated more than 429,000 people have been evacuated across the province, with over 1,700 villages still under threat. Thousands have already taken shelter in relief camps.
He said that heavy flooding had hit the Ravi and Sutlej river belts, submerging crops and forcing mass displacement. At Shahdara in Lahore, the Ravi has recorded its highest flow since 1988, with 211,000 cusecs passing through, he added.
Kathiya further stated that water levels are expected to rise further downstream at Baloki, while Chiniot has already received over 820,000 cusecs.
For the unversed it is important to note here that Punjab’s three major rivers, Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej, are experiencing extremely high floods, while floodwaters are moving towards Sindh.
The floods have breached embankments at several locations, submerged hundreds of settlements, and destroyed standing crops. In various incidents, at least 25 people have died, and many others are missing.
This was made worse when India started flooding its rivers, which led to massive destruction in various parts of Punjab.
Rescue efforts continue, and more than 45,000 have been removed to safer areas. Gujrat, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Narowal, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Kasur, Okara and Pakpattan are the worst-affected districts.
