As Punjab faces a serious flood situation, Sindh is also preparing for the possible impact of a major water surge expected to affect hundreds of thousands living in riverbed areas, while residents of mainland regions are likely to remain safe.
Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, speaking at a press conference in Sukkur on Thursday alongside provincial minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, confirmed that the irrigation department and district administrations have been placed on high alert. “Undoubtedly, riverbed areas in Sindh will be affected, just as we have seen a sudden increase in water levels in Punjab’s rivers,” Shoro stated.
Although no updated figures are available, the Sindh government estimated in 2015 that around 414,000 people lived in flood-prone riverbed villages. The minister pointed out that Punjab had witnessed a sudden surge of 700,000 cusecs in just 13 hours, though he did not disclose the estimated volume expected to reach Guddu barrage in Sindh.
The floodwater from Punjab’s rivers — Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej — is expected to converge at Chahran Sharif, around 60 kilometres downstream of Panjnad, before entering Sindh. Shoro said that only once the torrents converge at Panjnad will the authorities be able to calculate the exact volume heading into Sindh. The deluge is expected to reach Guddu between September 2 and 3.
The irrigation department is monitoring all river readings to determine the potential impact. Riverine communities will be informed about the expected water flow at least two days before it reaches Guddu, though officials acknowledged that many residents in such areas often resist evacuation, trusting their own assessments over official warnings.
