Pakistan Evacuates 150,000 as Sutlej and Ravi Rivers Reach Critical Levels
Published: August 26, 2025 | Web Desk
Authorities in Pakistan have shifted nearly 150,000 people to safer areas following warnings from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) over rising water levels in the Sutlej and Ravi rivers due to heavy monsoon rains and water releases from India.
The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) launched large-scale evacuations in vulnerable districts, including Bahawalnagar, Kasur, Okara, Pakpattan, Bahawalpur, and Vehari, moving tens of thousands of residents to relief camps. About 40,000 people relocated on their own after initial warnings, while emergency teams and departments remain on high alert.
Authorities have urged citizens to avoid rivers, streams, and low-lying areas, limit travel, and follow safety instructions via TV, radio, mobile alerts, and the Pak NDMA Disaster Alert app.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed officials to ensure timely evacuation as floodwaters continue to rise.
Flood Situation Across Rivers
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Sutlej River: Reached very high flood stage at multiple points.
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Ravi River: Medium flooding at some locations; rising water levels in tributaries including Basantar, Bein, and Deg.
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Indus River: Medium flooding at Sukkur; low flooding at Kalabagh, Chashma, Guddu, and Kotri barrages.
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Chenab River: Low flood stage at Head Marala; tributaries also at low levels.
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Jhelum, Kabul, and Nari Rivers: Normal flow.
Reservoirs are filling quickly, with Tarbela near full capacity and Mangla approaching limits. Khanpur, Rawal, and Simly dams are also recording rising water levels.
Relief Measures
Deputy commissioners in Lahore, Sahiwal, Multan, Bahawalpur, and Dera Ghazi Khan are coordinating emergency response. Relief camps are set up for displaced families, with arrangements for livestock and essential supplies. Public announcements are being made through mosques and media channels to guide citizens to safety.
India has formally informed Pakistan about planned water releases on humanitarian grounds, including discharges into the Ravi and Sutlej rivers. Forecasts indicate that heavy rainfall in Indian states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand could further swell rivers flowing into Pakistan.
Monsoon Toll
The monsoon season has claimed 799 lives nationwide since late June. In addition, flooding in India’s Jammu and Kashmir region has killed at least 60 people, while northwestern Pakistan has recorded nearly 400 deaths. The NDMA has warned that heavy rains are expected until September 10.
Indus Waters Treaty Context
The floods come amid heightened tensions over the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). Signed in 1960 and mediated by the World Bank, the treaty governs water sharing between India and Pakistan. The eastern rivers — Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi — are allocated to India, while Pakistan controls the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office called India’s recent unilateral suspension of the treaty a “serious violation of international law”, highlighting potential risks to agriculture, hydropower, and regional stability.
