Floodwaters Submerge Kartarpur, Evacuations Underway in Punjab as Rivers Swell

The Kartarpur area in Punjab has been completely submerged by rising floodwaters, causing widespread damage to homes, fields, and even the iconic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib. The situation continues to worsen, with evacuations underway for both residents and staff from the Kartarpur Project Management Unit, while emergency teams work to secure affected individuals.

Floodwaters in Punjab have wreaked havoc, inundating the Kartarpur region, where the revered Gurdwara Darbar Sahib is now surrounded by water. Disturbing images and videos shared on social media have captured the shrine amid the rising floods, highlighting the extent of the disaster. More than 100 staff members from the Kartarpur Project Management Unit remain stranded, but rescue teams are actively working to evacuate them to safety.

The district administration has been scrambling to evacuate families and livestock from the affected areas as water levels continue to rise. A red alert has been issued, urging residents to avoid the riverbanks, as the threat of more flooding looms. Many villages have already been submerged, and crops across the region have been severely damaged, leading to significant disruptions in livelihoods.

The situation remains dire at Head Baloki, where the River Ravi’s water level is still rising. Authorities are also bracing for a high flood in the river at Shahdara, Lahore, later tonight due to a combination of heavy rains and the release of excess water from Indian dams. The National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) has confirmed that the Ravi at Jassar is carrying a high flood of 202,200 cusecs, expected to rise further, putting areas along its path at risk.

In response, the Indian High Commission has shared flood data with Pakistan, prompting the Indus Water Commissioner’s office to issue flood alerts for areas downstream, including the Sutlej at Ferozepur and the Ravi at Madhopur.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has advised the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Sindh to evacuate vulnerable communities from riverine areas along the Indus River and its tributaries. With the expected rise in river flows, especially in the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej, the NDMA has emphasized the need for strategic evacuation routes and the placement of essential machinery for efficient disaster response.