A high-level flood in the Sutlej River at Ganda Singh Wala has inundated vast areas of Punjab, submerging villages, farmland, and road networks after India released a massive flow of water downstream.

According to officials, water inflow at Ganda Singh was recorded at 122,326 cusecs, forcing hundreds of families to evacuate their homes as livestock and crops were washed away.

Floodwaters spread across Suldera, Rahim Shah, and Gahi Shah, while the Chishtian–Sahuka Road was also overtaken, cutting off rural settlements.

Thousands of acres of farmland, including cotton, rice, and sesame crops, were destroyed, leaving agrarian families in Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar devastated. Residents were seen wading through waist-deep water, carrying essentials as they abandoned ancestral homes.

Situation at major rivers and barrages

Sutlej River (Kasur, Ganda Singh Wala): High-level flood
Chenab River (Head Sulemanki): Medium-level flood
Chenab River (Marala & Khanki): Low-level flood warning
Indus River (Guddu & Sukkur Barrages): Moderate flooding
- Guddu inflow: 514,800 cusecs
- Sukkur inflow: 488,000 cusecs
Dams:
- Tarbela Dam nearly full (1549ft of 1550ft capacity)
- Mangla Dam nearing limit (1220ft of 1242ft capacity)

Authorities have intensified relief and rescue operations, shifting families and livestock to safer ground.

India-Pakistan water tensions flare again

The crisis comes amid renewed friction over the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

India recently resumed communication under the IWT after months of silence since the May 2025 military conflict.
On August 24, New Delhi alerted Islamabad to a potential flood threat in the Tawi River at Jammu.
This was the first official contact since the war in May, which followed accusations from India that Pakistan was behind an April militant attack in Pahalgam, IIOJK — charges Pakistan denies.

Despite decades of hostility, the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, mediated by the World Bank, has historically survived three wars and multiple conflicts, ensuring water-sharing and dispute resolution.

Official response

The Flood Forecasting Division in Lahore has issued high flood alerts at Head Marala, Khanki, and Qarabad, while monitoring continues at Indus barrages.

Rescue teams remain on the ground, but officials warn the situation could worsen if further discharges occur upstream.