Floods hit hundreds of villages, three killed

LAHORE– Hundreds of villages were inundated after India released surplus water into the River Ravi. Three people died in the flood affected areas during the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, the road link between Muridke and Narowal was also suspended due to flooding in the Nullah Dek.

More than 200 villages were submerged and standing crops on several acres destroyed due to high flood in River Tawi, Nullah Dek and Basantar. The Narowal road has also been closed for traffic, disconnecting the road link with Muridke.

Moreover, road links and bridges were washed away by the gushing water in Sialkot and Rajanpur, as a result people were left stranded.

According to government officials, three people have died in flood-related accidents over the last 24 hours while more than 100,000 persons have been affected.

Flood in the River Chenab is currently crossing the Head Qadirabad where the local residents have already vacated their places and are facing severe commotion. A bridge was washed away in Sialkot due to high tide in the River Tawi.
More than two-dozen villages of Sialkot and Gujranwala were submerged in floodwater. Flood warning has been issued for more than 150 villages adjacent to Chiniot near River Chenab.

Flood warning has also been issued for five tehsils due to high flood in River Sutlej.

Flood warning centres have forecast more rains for Lahore and Rawalpindi divisions. Rains could be very heavy at times in places along the border with India or India-held Kashmir, according to the Met office.

The office has forecast scattered thunderstorm and rain with heavy falls at isolated places in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Multan, Bahawalpur, D.G. Khan, Kalat, Zhob, Nasirabad, Sukkur and Larkana divisions along with Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The water level at Ravi at Shahdara is rising and it is likely to be in medium flood at this point in the next 24 hours because of expected rains over its lower and upper catchments.

The tributaries of the rivers Ravi and Chenab in the Sialkot region are also likely to be in `high to very high’ flood during this period.

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P���ng centres have forecast more rains for Lahore and Rawalpindi divisions. Rains could be very heavy at times in places along the border with India or India-held Kashmir, according to the Met office.

The office has forecast scattered thunderstorm and rain with heavy falls at isolated places in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Multan, Bahawalpur, D.G. Khan, Kalat, Zhob, Nasirabad, Sukkur and Larkana divisions along with Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.

According to the FFD, the River Indus at Chashma and River Chenab at Marala, Khanki and Qadirabad are in high floods.

The River Indus at Guddu is likely to be in high flood on Aug 20 and 21, as 600,000 to 650,000 cusecs water is likely to pass through this area, while there would be high flood at Sukkur between Aug 21 and 22.

The water level at Ravi at Shahdara is rising and it is likely to be in medium flood at this point in the next 24 hours because of expected rains over its lower and upper catchments.

The tributaries of the rivers Ravi and Chenab in the Sialkot region are also likely to be in `high to very high’ flood during this period.