The flood torrents from the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers have placed the districts of Multan, Muzaffargarh, Liaquatpur, and Rahim Yar Khan in severe danger. According to the report, near Multan, the official protective embankment in Basti Baharan has broken, while a deliberate breach has been made on the Uch Sharif Road to protect Uch Sharif city from inundation. As a result of this breach, eastern localities including Mouza Jhanbu, Nooraja Bhatta, Kotla, Bahadurpur, and Sabra have been severely impacted.

Although the flow of water remains steady at the Sher Shah embankment near Multan, the decision to break the Sher Shah protective bund has been postponed, as the threat of a high flood in Jalalpur Pirwala has now subsided. At Head Panjnad, water levels have risen again. Currently, a powerful flood wave carrying 607,000 cusecs is passing through the point. Earlier, the flood that passed through the Alipur region devastated 70% of the tehsil's area.

The next 24 hours have been declared extremely critical for flood response and safety efforts. In the suburbs of Qaboola, the Farid Shah area has been overwhelmed by flooding. Thousands of acres of crops have been destroyed, entire settlements have been swallowed by the river, and connecting roads have been severed, cutting off ground access to the area. Rescue operations are underway using boats to evacuate affected residents.

In the outskirts of Luddan, the Akbar Shah area has suffered extensive damage, with more than 2,000 homes submerged. Standing cropsócotton, rice, sesame, and maizeóhave been completely wiped out by floodwaters. Women and children are suffering from hunger and thirst due to food shortages. At Arifwala on the Sutlej River, a high-level flood has caused significant devastation.

Displaced residents, left homeless, have pitched tents on their own for shelter. Weakened by hunger, they await government assistance with growing desperation. At the Guddu Barrage, water levels have crossed 500,000 cusecs. Villages along the riverbanks are now underwater. Locals are evacuating and relocating on their own, as formal evacuation assistance remains limited.

According to the Meteorological Department, over the past 24 hours, water levels have also risen significantly at both Mangla and Tarbela Dams. Both Tarbela and Rawal Dams have once again reached full capacity. At Tarbela, the water level has reached 1,550.00 feetóthe damís full storage capacity. Similarly, Rawal Dam now stands at 1,751.80 feet, just shy of its 1,752 feet limit.

Mangla Dam is currently 92% full, with a recorded water level of 1,234.60 feet, while its full capacity is 1,242 feet. The Khanpur Dam has reached a water level of 1,981.45 feet, just below its 1,982 feet capacity. Simly Dam is holding 2,315.25 feet of water, matching its full storage limit of 2,315 feet.

As a result of these water levels, spillways at various dams are now being opened to release excess water and prevent structural pressure or collapse. In the Danga area of ??Kharian, two brothers, 14-year-old Zainer and 12-year-old Shah Zain, drowned in the nullah near Mohalla Shah Takiya. Zainer was rescued by locals while the search for Shah Zain's body continued till late at night. The search will resume today.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)