Multan district authorities suspended traffic at Head Muhammad Wala bridge on Tuesday in a precautionary measure against imminent flood threat.
Authorities may be forced to breach the Head for safety if pressure continues to increase, said Multan Commissioner Aamir Karim Khan. The major Chenab flood wave currently passing through Head Trimmu is expected to reach Multan by tonight, while water levels at Head Sidhnai are rising rapidly, threatening Pir Mahal and Khanewal.
At present, the water gauge at Head Muhammad Wala stands at 408 feet, with the critical level being 417 feet. The technical committee will decide on breaching Head Muhammad Wala based on the speed and intensity of the flood wave, among other factors.
Read: Punjab battles worst flooding in history
So far, 550,000 people have been evacuated from flood-affected areas of the district, and over 500,000 livestock has been moved to safer locations. Around 90 flood relief camps are fully operational across the district.
Over 1,100 police personnel and officers are on duty to ensure the safe evacuation of affected residents. A large police contingent is participating in flood relief operations across 138 localities within Multan District.
Multan is facing flood threats from two rivers of Punjab, with approximately 500,000 cusecs from the Chenab and 125,000 cusecs from the Ravi expected by tonight. Authorities are working round the clock to prevent major structural damage in Multan. A breach will only be considered if structural integrity is compromised.
District commissioners have been instructed to arrange ample fodder and improve fodder supply for livestock. Medical teams from Nishtar and Sargodha hospitals are deployed in the field to address potential epidemics once the water recedes.
Water levels in the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers have reached dangerous heights following heavy monsoon rains across Punjab and India’s release of additional water into Pakistan’s eastern rivers.
Punjab’s Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Irfan Ali, stated that the next four to six hours are critical as India continues to release water.
Read more: Sindh braces for ‘super floods’ as CM reviews Guddu Barrage defenses
According to the Flood Forecasting Division, over 350,000 cusecs of water is currently passing through Ganda Singh Wala on the Sutlej — the highest level recorded since 1955 — while the water flow at Head Trimmu on the Chenab has exceeded 516,000 cusecs.
In the next 24 hours, there is a risk of urban flooding in Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sahiwal, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad, and Bahawalpur divisions.
PDMA Punjab has issued an extremely high-level warning for the Chenab and Sutlej rivers.Between 4th and 5th September, a high-level flood situation is expected at Panjnad on the Chenab River.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of further increases in river pressure in the coming days, raising concerns of a potential “super flood” in Sindh.
According to the PDMA DG, more than one million people have been relocated to safer areas, while at least 41 people have lost their lives since August 26.
