Flood Situation in Sindh and Punjab Shows Signs of Improvement
Provincial authorities reported on Tuesday that flood levels across Sindh’s barrage system are gradually declining, while Punjab’s major rivers are mostly stable. Relief and rescue operations remain underway in both provinces as recovery efforts continue.
Sindh Barrages See Declining Inflows
At Guddu and Sukkur barrages, inflows of 611,051 and 571,800 cusecs were recorded, with outflows lower by 27,900 and 53,680 cusecs. Despite the excess inflow, both sites showed a noticeable drop compared to earlier days. Similar downward trends were also reported at Kotri and Panjnad.
Punjab Rivers Stable
Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed normal flows in the Indus, Chenab, and Ravi rivers. Medium flooding was observed only in the Sutlej and Panjnad. At Ganda Singhwala, the Sutlej carried 101,000 cusecs, while Head Islam reported 81,000 cusecs and Sulemanki recorded 90,000 cusecs.
The Indus River remained within safe limits, with 196,000 cusecs at Tarbela, 169,000 at Kalabagh, 178,000 at Chashma, and 161,000 at Taunsa. On the Chenab, flows ranged between 56,000 cusecs at Marala and 80,000 at Head Trimmu, except for a medium flood of 234,000 cusecs at Panjnad.
Relief Operations in Sindh
Sindh’s Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said food, clean water, healthcare, and livestock support are being provided in affected areas. In the past 24 hours, 3,522 people were evacuated, bringing the total to 173,027. Around 469 remain in relief camps.
Livestock rescues continue, with over 450,000 animals relocated so far. Veterinary teams vaccinated nearly 40,000 animals in a single day, with more than 1.3 million doses administered overall. Meanwhile, 183 medical camps remain active, treating more than 92,000 patients to date.
National Flood Response
At the federal level, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal chaired a review meeting of the prime minister’s committee. He said Punjab is showing signs of recovery as water recedes, but Sindh still faces severe challenges. A preliminary damage report is expected within 10 days.
Authorities estimate that 2.5 million people have been displaced nationwide, with millions of homes affected. Since June 16, the monsoon floods have claimed nearly 980 lives and injured more than 1,100 people.
International Assistance
International support has begun arriving: the United States has sent six aid consignments, the United Kingdom pledged £3 million, and Singapore contributed $50,000. Officials emphasized that climate change remains a key factor behind the intensity of the floods, citing erratic monsoon patterns and glacier melt.
Concerns about deliberate water releases from India were dismissed by experts, who clarified that inflows were unintentional but added to existing pressure on Pakistan’s rivers.
