Due to the release of water by India and the rains, the situation of severe flooding continues in the rivers and streams of Punjab. Along with the rise in the flood water level in the Ravi River, the speed of the water has also increased.
The flow of flood water is also continuously increasing in the Ravi River, due to which there is high level of flooding at Shahdara in Lahore. Citizens along the river are also being asked to evacuate the area.
Due to the passage of flood water in the Ravi, Chenab and Sutlej, the surrounding villages were flooded, while standing crops were also destroyed, and several small dams were also broken.
So far, 11 people have been reported to have died due to the collapse of the roofs of houses and drowning in the flood water.
Marriyum Aurangzeb
Talking to the media on the occasion of her visit to the Ravi River, Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that a historic flood water is flowing here, despite this, all the populations were rescued, but I regret to say that 11 people died.
He said that people did not die due to the incompetence of the government, but we evacuated thousands of people, including livestock.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said that all the agencies under the supervision of the Chief Minister of Punjab have been present in the field for three days now, and the public is appealed not to go near the floodwaters.
Evacuation of citizens
Rescue and relief activities are underway in the areas affected by the recent floods in Punjab.
More than 3,000 people have been evacuated to safer places from the Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej, Jhelum and Sindh rivers, while a total of more than 45,000 people have been evacuated from the entire province.
The most affected districts include Gujrat, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Narowal, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Kasur, Okara and Pakpattan. 669 boats and 2861 rescuers are participating in the ongoing transportation operation in 30 districts of Punjab.
816 people were rescued from Kala Shedian area of Mandi Bahauddin and 625 from Pindi Bhatian tehsil of Hafizabad in the last 24 hours.
1553 people were safely evacuated from floodwaters in Nankana Sahib, including 568 women and 318 children.
2392 livestock were also shifted to safe places from the affected villages. 14 boats, 93 rescue workers and 122 volunteers were active for the rescue operation in Nankana Sahib.
On the instructions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, best arrangements have been made for treatment, food and other facilities in 7 flood relief and shelter camps established for flood victims so that all possible relief can be provided to the victims.
Ravi
According to the DG PDMA, the flow of flood water in the Ravi River is continuously increasing. At present, 191,000 cusecs of flood water is passing through Shahdara and about 200,000 cusecs of water will pass through in the next few hours.
The administration and other agencies are preventing the general public from going towards the banks of the Ravi River.
According to the Relief Commissioner Punjab, up to 250,000 cusecs of flood water can be easily passed through the Ravi River from Shahdara to Lahore.
The flood water has risen above the banks of the Ravi River and the water has also started rising in the adjacent settlements towards Shahdara. Due to the increase in the amount of flood water, announcements are being made in the surrounding mosques to evacuate the settlements.
Rescue teams along with the “Para” force evacuated the houses of the people living in the surrounding settlements. The district administration has evacuated 22 villages in five tehsils of Lahore. Civil Defense, Edhi, Rescue 1122 and other agencies are also present.
The water flow at the Ravikot Neena River is 80 thousand cusecs and there is medium flood. The water flow at the Jasar River is 1 lakh 21 thousand cusecs and there is high flood.
The water flow at the Siphon River is 1 lakh 91 thousand and there is very high flood. The water inflow at the Block Head Works is 1 lakh 4 thousand cusecs and the outflow is 92 thousand cusecs, due to which there is high flood.
Sectors and walls of the sector in Shakargarh district were submerged in water while dozens of houses collapsed, due to which 3 people died.
Chenab
According to the PDMA spokesperson, there is a moderate flood situation in the Chenab River at Marala.
The inflow of water at Marala is 191,000 while the outflow is 185,000 cusecs. There has been a clear decrease in the flow of water at Marala.
There is a very dangerous high level of flood at Khanki in the Chenab River. The water flow at Khanki is 859,000 cusecs.
There is a very dangerous high level of flood at Head Qadirabad while the water flow is 996,000 cusecs.
More than 50 villages have been submerged in the sub-marial area due to the flood in the Chenab River, the number of people drowned in the flood wave has reached 8.
The very high level of flood wave in the Chenab River will reach Muzaffargarh tomorrow, Friday.
According to the district administration, flood water will pass through Rangpur, Head Muhammadwala, Mardabad, Doaba and Sanki in the next 2 days in the limits of Muzaffargarh.
According to Deputy Commissioner Usman Tahir Jappa, the flood flow in the Chenab River within the limits of Muzaffargarh district is expected to be 6 to 7 lakh cusecs.
Citizens are facing problems due to the dilapidated condition of the protective flood bunds during the possible very high level of flood. Cracks have appeared in the flood bunds of Rangpur, Moradabad, Bhattian Wali Basti, Thatta Sialan and Sanki.
Due to the flood in the Chenab River, 3.5 lakh cusecs of water is currently flowing in Chiniot, while the capacity is 9.5 lakh.
Deputy Commissioner Safiullah Gondal says that no decision has been taken yet regarding the breaching of the Chiniot dam, the concerned departments will jointly take a decision in this regard. Our first priority is to save the population and the city of Chiniot.
Sutlej
There is a very dangerous high level of flood in the Sutlej River at Ganda Singh Wala. The water flow at Ganda Singh Wala is 261,000 cusecs.
The water flow at Head Sulemanki is 190,000 cusecs, which is causing moderate flooding.
The protective bunds of Lakha Saldera and Jatera in Vehari broke, due to which flood water entered Lakha Saldera and village Jatera.
Kalia Shah, village Dhol, village Saifan, Jhok Gamo, Jhok Fazil and Virsi Vahan were severely affected due to the breach of the Murad Wala dam.
Several temporary protective bunds broke due to the rapid flow of water in Bahawalnagar,
Citizens evacuated from the affected areas
According to experts, the timely operation against encroachments by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has been beneficial in saving the people from loss of life in the severe flood situation.
Floods in Chenab, Sutlej and Ravi affected 1,236,824 citizens from 1,432 villages of Punjab.
991 villages and 769,281 citizens living on the banks of the Chenab River were affected.
80 villages and 74,775 citizens living on the banks of the Ravi River were affected.
361 villages and 392,768 citizens living on the banks of the Sutlej River were affected.
248,086 people had to leave their homes due to the flood, who have been shifted to safer places. More than 148,000 livestock have been shifted to safer places, 234 animal treatment camps are also functioning.
The fact that not a single citizen died in the extraordinary flood is a high example of management, 694 relief camps and 265 medical camps are working in the field.
Instructions for the public
Relief Commissioner Punjab Nabil Javed has instructed the Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners to be present in the field and said that PDMA is ensuring continuous coordination across the province. Deputy Commissioners and other officers should be present in the field.
The Relief Commissioner Punjab said that the evacuation of people from the flood-affected areas should be ensured as soon as possible, the safety of people’s lives and property is the top priority and responsibility. All relevant rescue and relief agencies should be on high alert, there is no room for negligence.