Monitoring Desk/Web Desk/Special Correspondents:

A devastating flood has wreaked havoc across Punjab, submerging thousands of villages and millions of acres of standing crops in Kasur, Sargodha, Jhang, Chiniot, Arifwala, Kabirwala, Lodhran, Rajanpur and other areas. At least 30 people have lost their lives, while more than 1.5 million have been displaced. Below is a detailed report on the scale of destruction caused by the floods in Punjab.

Over 2,000 Areas Submerged

According to Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, floodwaters from the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers have affected 2,038 villages, with 1,169 affected by the Chenab, 462 by the Ravi, and 391 by the Sutlej. Most of the destruction occurred in settlements near riverbanks and low-lying areas. Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed confirmed that 481,000 flood victims have been shifted to safer locations.

More Water Expected from India

Director General of PDMA, Irfan Ali Kathia, warned that more water is expected due to the breach of India’s Madhopur Headworks. He added that until river levels recede, submerged areas will not see any reduction in floodwaters.

CM Punjab Briefed at PDMA

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz visited the PDMA office in Lahore, where she was briefed on the relief and rescue operations. Commissioners and deputy commissioners from all flood-affected districts provided situational updates via video link.

Use of Drone and AI Technology

On the directives of CM Maryam Nawaz, drone and AI technology is being used for the first time in Punjab’s flood management operations. Drones are tracking stranded victims and guiding rescue efforts, with live feeds monitored at the central control room in Lahore.

Flight Operations Shifted from Sialkot to Lahore

Due to the worsening flood situation, flight operations at Sialkot Airport have been temporarily suspended. PIA has shifted its operations to Lahore Airport. Passengers have been advised to contact the airline’s call center (786786111) for updated flight information.

Multan: Forage Crops Destroyed, Prices Skyrocket

Flooding from the Chenab River in Multan has destroyed thousands of acres of fodder crops, affecting nearly 90,000 livestock. Severe shortages have caused fodder prices to soar:

Fresh fodder up by Rs. 200 per maund
Silage jumped from Rs. 600 to Rs. 850 per maund
Straw increased from Rs. 500 to Rs. 650 per maund

Field Hospitals and Mobile Clinics Active

In Sargodha, Bahawalpur, and other flood-hit districts, field hospitals and mobile clinics are providing doorstep medical services, free medicines, and diagnostic tests. Medical staff, some wearing life jackets, continue treatment in submerged areas.

Punjab Police Join Rescue Work

Punjab Police personnel have also joined rescue efforts, evacuating families trapped in floodwaters via boats. In Bahawalnagar and nearby districts, officers carried children to safety, earning public praise for their bravery.

Ajit Doval, Amit Shah Designed Op Sindoor: Mohsin Naqvi

Heavily Affected Areas

Currently, three rivers—Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab—are in full flood following India’s water release. The worst devastation has been reported from Sutlej and Chenab catchments, while water levels in the Ravi are gradually receding.

In Kasur’s Ganda Singh Wala, the Sutlej witnessed a historic flood surge of 350,000 cusecs last night. Most surrounding villages had already been evacuated, yet widespread damage occurred in Arifwala, Kabirwala, Lodhran, Bahawalnagar, and Bahawalpur.

The Chenab River has inundated hundreds of villages in Jhang and Chiniot. To protect Jhang city, authorities deliberately breached embankments at one point, and railway tracks were blown up at three different sites to divert the floodwaters. In Kot Momin, Sargodha, hundreds of villages remain submerged, with water stretching as far as the eye can see.

Rescue and Relief Statistics

According to Maryam Aurangzeb:

511 relief camps and 351 medical camps are operational round the clock
Over 6,373 victims are sheltered in relief camps
More than 405,000 livestock shifted to safer grounds
321 veterinary camps treating animals
808 boats deployed in rescue operations
In the last 36 hours, 68,477 people have been rescued

She added that CM Maryam Nawaz is personally supervising the operations, and Punjab avoided massive loss of life due to preemptive measures and anti-encroachment drives carried out earlier.