Punjab Deploys Army as Chenab, Ravi & Sutlej Face Exceptionally High Floods

Punjab is facing an acute flood emergency as the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers surge to “exceptionally high” levels following heavy monsoon rains and water releases from Indian dams. The situation escalated when Indian authorities opened all gates of the Thein Dam on the Ravi River, after issuing a prior warning about a similar release from the Madhopur Dam.

By early Wednesday, flood levels at key headworks—including Qadirabad and Khanki on the Chenab, Jassar on the Ravi, and Ganda Singh Wala on the Sutlej—surged dramatically. Outflows at Khanki exceeded one million cusecs, while Qadirabad neared 800,000 cusecs. Ravi at Jassar and Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala remained at steady but dangerously elevated levels.

In response, the Punjab government has deployed the Pakistan Army in six districts—Lahore, Faisalabad, Kasur, Sialkot, Narowal, and Okara—to support civil authorities in relief and rescue efforts. District administrations, along with Rescue 1122, Civil Defence, and local law enforcement, have launched large-scale evacuations and established relief camps, medical centers, and shelter facilities. More than 20,000 residents have been moved to safety so far.

Officials warned that further water inflow from upstream could worsen the crisis, especially in urban centers like Lahore. With disaster response teams stretched thin, the government remains on high alert, closely monitoring the flood situation across affected regions.