Historic flood set to hit Chenab River
Provincial floods death toll climbs to 35, PMD warns more rainfall expected till September 3
Our Correspondents
September 01, 20252
Residents wade through a flooded road, following monsoon rains and rising water levels in Qadirabad village near the Chenab River in Punjab province, Pakistan August 28, 2025. Photo: Reuters
On Monday, Punjab Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb sounded the alarm as unprecedented flooding in the Chenab, Jhelum, and Ravi rivers threatened 11 districts, including Jhang, Sahiwal, Toba Tek Singh, Okara, Multan, Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, Vehari, and Bahawalpur.
By late tonight, the Chenab River is expected to witness its largest historic flood of 900,000 cusecs. Additionally, floodwaters from the Ravi River are expected to merge into the Chenab tonight.
Severe flooding is reported at Trimmu, Balloki, Sulemanki, and Ganda Singh Wala, while medium-level flooding affects Khanki, Qadirabad, and Shahdara.
Water levels in the Chenab River have begun rising at Head Muhammad Wala, with the flow now surpassing 200,000 cusecs. Over the next 24 hours, a flood surge of 480,000 cusecs is expected to hit Head Muhammad. At Head Trimmu, water discharge has reached up to 550,000 cusecs.
In Rajanpur, the protective embankment of Samti village broke due to the flood surge, and water has rapidly inundated nearby villages and fish farms. The floodwaters coming from Jhang have begun engulfing all settlements in the Jawana Bangla area of Muzaffargarh. Currently, a flood flow of 400,000 cusecs is passing between Jhang and Muzaffargarh in the Chenab River.
The Sutlej River continues to wreak havoc in Bahawalpur, with riverbank erosion intensifying. Floodwaters have begun to engulf nearby areas, including Mari Qasim Shah, leaving residents stranded. A major flood is expected to pass through the city in the next two days.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a warning on Monday morning regarding upcoming rainfall. According to PMD, “widespread heavy to very-heavy rainfall, along with torrential downpours at scattered places, is expected over the upper catchments of Rivers Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, and Chenab, as well as in Lahore and Gujranwala divisions, during September 1 and 3.”