30 Dead, 500,000 Evacuated in Punjab Floods; Indus River on Alert

At least 30 people have died and more than 1.5 million have been affected as swollen rivers submerged over 2,300 villages across Punjab this week, Pakistan’s disaster management authority said Saturday.

Triggered by record monsoon rains and water releases from upstream India, the floods have inundated vast tracts of Pakistan’s most populous province, damaging homes, livestock and farmland, and forcing the evacuation of nearly half a million residents.

Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed said 2,308 villages were underwater, with 481,000 people rescued to safer ground. He added that 511 relief camps, 351 medical posts and 321 veterinary units had been set up, while around 405,000 animals were moved to higher ground.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned the crisis could worsen further south, with “very high flood levels” expected on the Indus River at Guddu and Sukkur barrages between September 4–5. The agency said more than 830 people have died nationwide since the start of the monsoon on June 26.

Data from the Flood Forecasting Division showed exceptionally high water levels on the Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala and the Ravi at Balloki, with the Chenab at Trimmu expected to rise within 24 hours and Panjnad likely to reach very high flood by September 3.

In Lahore, officials confirmed two lightning-related deaths during recent storms. PDMA chief Irfan Ali Kathia reported 303,000 cusecs flowing at Ganda Singh, where 20 villages were evacuated overnight, and 175,000 cusecs at Head Marala on the Chenab.

The NDMA said it had dispatched emergency rations to Sialkot and Narowal and was preparing further shipments for Wazirabad, Hafizabad, Chiniot and Jhang.

The flooding coincides with the ninth spell of monsoon rains, forecast to continue until September 2. Heavy showers have already drenched Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Jhelum and Sialkot.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of worsening flood risks by releasing water from dams during monsoon peaks. Officials said Bhakra Dam was 84 percent full, Pong 94 percent and Thein 92 percent, raising fears of additional cross-border surges.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department warned of hot, humid weather across Sindh, with scattered rain expected in Jacobabad, Kashmore, Ghotki, Khairpur, Kamber Shahdadkot, Sanghar, Umerkot and Tharparkar. The Indus at Guddu and Sukkur was already at medium flood levels, with a dangerous rise forecast in the coming days.