Punjab is in the grip of a severe flooding emergency as relentless monsoon rains and India’s release of dam water have pushed several major rivers to “exceptionally high” levels, forcing mass evacuations and prompting military deployment across the province.

Officials confirmed Wednesday that more than 32,500 people have been evacuated from flood-prone areas along the Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej, and other rivers. The Punjab government has called in army units in at least eight districts to support rescue and relief operations, warning that water levels are continuing to rise.

Rivers Swell to Dangerous Levels

Pakistan’s Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) reported that as of Wednesday afternoon, Chenab at Qadirabad and Khanki headworks, Ravi at Jassar, and Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala were all in “exceptionally high flood” conditions. Flows at Khanki and Qadirabad crossed one million cusecs, an extremely rare figure, while water levels at Marala Headworks, which had peaked overnight, have started to decline slightly.

Meanwhile, India opened spillways of multiple dams, including the Thein and Madhopur dams on the Ravi, warning downstream regions of imminent flooding. The decision followed torrential rainfall across northern India, which has caused devastation there as well.

The rising water has already inundated areas that were previously dry, with residents in Kasur, Narowal, Bahawalpur, and Sialkot among the hardest hit. Kartarpur Sahib, a major Sikh religious site, was also flooded, prompting an emergency rescue effort for stranded pilgrims.

Evacuations and Relief Efforts Intensify

Rescue 1122, Pakistan’s emergency service, said its teams evacuated 5,970 people in the last 24 hours alone. Hundreds of boats are being used to ferry families to safety, while additional vessels are on standby as water continues to surge. The Edhi Foundation has also set up relief camps in Kasur and surrounding districts.

District authorities have warned residents of low-lying areas near rivers to move immediately to safer ground.

Climate Experts Call Floods ‘Unprecedented’

Climate change expert Masood Lohar described the situation as “highly unusual,” noting that floodwaters have entered abandoned riverbeds for the first time in decades.

“This is not an act of water aggression by India,” Lohar stressed, countering political rhetoric. “They’re experiencing similar devastation and had no choice but to release water. What we’re seeing is nature’s response to years of mismanagement of river systems.”

He warned that Sindh could face severe flooding in the next two weeks, with estimates suggesting water levels at Guddu Barrage could rise beyond 1.2 million cusecs if northern rains persist.

Government Response and Warnings

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered federal ministers to visit affected regions and monitor relief efforts, while the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has begun controlled water releases from Tarbela Dam to manage flows.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicts continued “very high to exceptionally high” flood levels in the Sutlej and Ravi rivers in coming days, with the Indus River at Guddu and Sukkur barrages expected to peak September 4–5.

Sialkot, one of the hardest-hit districts, recorded 363.5 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, breaking a 49-year record. The PMD warns that more rain is likely in Lahore, Narowal, and other districts over the next 72 hours.

A Crisis That Could Worsen

Experts caution that the unfolding floods may be among Pakistan’s worst in decades, given the convergence of extreme monsoon rainfall, glacial melt, and shifting river patterns. Lohar underscored the long-term threat:

“Our rivers are being treated like pipelines, but they are living systems. Unless we adapt, disasters like this will become more frequent and more destructive.”

With water levels still climbing, officials say the next 72 hours will be critical in determining the scale of damage across Punjab and downstream Sindh.