LAHORE, Pakistan: A severe flood emergency is building up across Punjab as waters from the Chenab and Ravi rivers threaten to submerge Muzaffargarh and Multan, putting millions of lives, homes, and livelihoods at risk. Authorities have already resorted to controlled breaches in embankments to redirect the raging waters, but the situation continues to deteriorate.
Reports confirm that more than 3.7 million people have been affected so far, with at least 1.4 million displaced and forced to leave behind their homes and belongings. The catastrophe has also impacted around 1 million livestock, further compounding the misery of the farming communities who depend on them for survival. Relief operations are underway, with over 400 flood relief camps established, yet these efforts remain insufficient against the magnitude of the crisis.
The official death toll has climbed to 46, while fresh surges of floodwater are expected to hit Multan in the coming days. Experts warn that the confluence of Chenab and Ravi near Khanewal has created a highly volatile situation, increasing the pressure on embankments and threatening urban as well as rural settlements.
The humanitarian scale of the disaster is overwhelming. Families stranded in villages are awaiting rescue, while many who have reached safer ground remain in desperate need of food, clean water, and medical assistance. With each passing hour, the flood crisis is stretching emergency resources to the limit.
Punjab now faces one of its gravest tests in recent memory—where nature’s fury and human resilience collide head-on.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.