NDMA advises residents living along riverbanks to immediately evacuate to safe places
APP
ISLAMABAD: The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued an emergency alert, warning that an unprecedented flood situation is underway in the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers.
According to the NEOC, the Chenab River is experiencing a severe flood, with a flow of 901,000 cusecs recorded at Qadirabad and 859,000 cusecs at Khanki. The flood torrent is expected to pass through Trimmu after Qadirabad and Khanki. Areas in Gujarat, Hafizabad, Pindi Bhattian, Sargodha, Mandi Bahauddin, Chiniot, and Jhang are at risk of being affected.
The Ravi River is also in a severe flood situation with a torrent of 139,000 cusecs at Jassar. The flood torrent is expected to reach about 164,160 cusecs upon reaching Shahdara, which could potentially affect Shahdara and Narowal.
In Lahore, areas including Kot Mandu, Zia Moosa, Aziz Colony, Qaisar Town, Faisal Park, Dheera, and Kot Begum are at risk. Other areas in Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib districts are also on alert.
In the Sutlej River, a severe flood situation is present with a torrent of around 261,000 cusecs at Ganda Singh Wala. The flood torrent has also intensified the flow in the Sulemanki area, which currently has a flow of 109,000 cusecs. Districts including Kasur, Pakpattan, Vehari, Nankana Sahib, Okara, and Bahawalnagar are also on flood watch.
Following the prime minister’s directives, the NDMA said it is monitoring all rescue and relief activities. The NEOC is fully operational 24/7 and is in constant contact with civil and military authorities.
The NDMA has advised residents living along riverbanks and in low-lying areas to immediately evacuate to safe places. Citizens are urged to follow instructions from the local administration, avoid unnecessary travel, and keep an emergency kit (water, food, medicine) and important documents ready.
Moreover, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) also released weekly weather outlook for rivers’ catchments.
“Moderate rainfall is likely to start from August 29 over the upper catchments of all the major rivers, intensity of rainfall may enhance from moderate to heavy from August 30,” the Met Office said.
Giving outlook for the flood situation in rivers, Chief Meteorologist Dr Zaheer Ahmad Babar has warned that due to water releases from Indian dams, exceptionally high flood level will continue in river Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala and downstream.
River Chenab at Trimmu is expected to attain exceptionally high flood level on August 29 evening, he said.
The chief meteorologist said River Chenab at Panjnad is expected to attain very high flood level on September 2.
Whereas, River Indus at Guddu and Sukkur is expected to attain very high flood on September 4 and 5.
River Ravi at Balloki is expected to attain exceptionally high flood level within 24-hours, he warned.
Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco), through its Space Application Centre for Response in Emergency and Disasters (Sacred), has extended vital support in the wake of the recent devastating floods in Punjab’s Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers due to heavy rains in catchment areas along with the release of excessive water from dams on Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers.
