Flood Evacuations Continue Across Punjab as Sutlej and Indus Rivers Rise
DERA GHAZI KHAN / BAHAWALPUR / OKARA: District administrations have intensified evacuation and relief operations in flood-affected villages along the Sutlej and Indus rivers, where low to medium-level floods are being reported.
Relief Efforts in Dera Ghazi Khan Division
In Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur, rescue teams are shifting families from inundated and low-lying areas.
Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Usman Khalid visited flood-hit villages of Taunsa, where Rescue 1122 and other departments briefed him about ongoing efforts.
Relief camps have been set up in government schools, providing cooked meals and shelter to displaced families. Authorities noted that while some areas are submerged, most houses on elevated ground remain safe.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), most rivers are at normal to low flood levels, though Chashma and Taunsa on the Indus are facing medium floods.
Evacuations in Bahawalpur
In Bahawalpur, the district administration has ordered the evacuation of residents from Dera Baakha and nearby rural areas, following rising water levels in Sutlej.
During a meeting chaired by DC Dr Farhan Farooq, officials warned that water released from India was expected to pass through the Empress Bridge in coming days. Breaches at private dykes have already submerged farmland and destroyed standing crops.
Assistant commissioners were directed to shift vulnerable populations to safer zones and relief camps, while the District Emergency Officer (DEO) Baqir Hussain reported that eight advance flood posts were now functional in four tehsils.
Situation in Vehari, Lodhran and Okara
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In Vehari, DC Imrana Tauqeer confirmed that five settlements were affected, with families moved to eight relief camps. Around 500 acres of farmland have been damaged.
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In Lodhran, DC Dr Lubna Nazir said relief camps had been established in all three tehsils, and riverine communities were being relocated.
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In Okara, DC Ahmad Usman Javaid and DEO Zafar Iqbal reported that 330 people, including children and elderly, were rescued from six villages. A team of 45 rescuers with 10 boats is carrying out operations at 12 camps along the Sutlej.
Ongoing Monitoring
Authorities continue to monitor the flood situation closely, with PDMA urging residents of at-risk areas to cooperate with evacuation teams and immediately shift to designated relief camps for safety.
