At least five people, including a woman and four children, lost their lives after a boat carrying flood victims capsized during an evacuation operation in Jalalpur Pirwala on Saturday, officials confirmed.
According to Rescue 1122, more than 20 people were on board when the boat overturned due to strong water currents. Rescue teams responded swiftly and managed to save over a dozen people.
“Our volunteers risked their lives and rescued over 12 individuals from the raging waters,” Rescue 1122 spokesperson said, adding that the unfortunate accident occurred during a flood relief operation in the Multan region.
PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia directed authorities to ensure the injured receive the best medical treatment and ordered that evacuation efforts must prioritise safety. “Private or official rescue boats must not be overloaded under any circumstances,” he said.
The Rescue spokesperson added that so far, over 9,000 people have been rescued from flood-hit areas in Multan, while more than 350,000 people and over 300,000 livestock have been evacuated in advance to safer locations.
Rain death toll tops 907: NDMA
As many as 907 people have lost their lives and 1044 others injured so far in rain and flood-related incidents across the country, stated National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
As per the NDMA statistics, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) reported the highest number of fatalities with 502 deaths and 218 injuries. In Punjab, 223 people were killed and 654 injured, while Sindh recorded 58 deaths and 78 injuries during the monsoon season.
Balochistan reported 26 fatalities and five injuries, while Gilgit-Baltistan recorded 41 deaths and 52 injuries due to rains, flash floods, and landslides. In addition, 38 deaths were reported in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and nine in Islamabad.
The NDMA further noted that 6,180 livestock perished and 7,848 houses were damaged in rain and flood-related incidents.
Meanwhile, NDMA has issued an alert warning of potential urban flooding and lightning in parts of Islamabad and northern Punjab due to the development of a strong weather system.
According to NDMA, heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is expected in Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, and Jhelum. “The formation of towering cumulonimbus clouds, triggered by intense heat may lead to heavy downpours and lightning strikes,” stated the NDMA.
It warned that hilly areas could experience landslides, while heavy rains might damage weak infrastructure and cause power outages.
The NDMA advised residents to stay away from trees and weak structures, park vehicles in safe locations, and avoid unnecessary travel.
The authority also issued a separate alert for southern Punjab, forecasting strong winds and heavy rainfall over the next two days in Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Ahmadpur, Liaquatpur, Zahirpir, Rajanpur, Khanpur, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, and Sadiqabad.
“Urban flooding and flash floods in nullahs and streams are likely in these areas,” NDMA warned, adding that strong winds and storms could uproot weak trees and disrupt power supply. It also cautioned that poor visibility due to rain and dust storms could lead to traffic accidents.
Residents have been urged to avoid crossing flooded streams, move livestock and valuables to safer places, and strictly follow instructions issued by local authorities.
Over 121,000 evacuated in Sindh as flood threat rises at major barrages
At least 121,769 people have been shifted from vulnerable riverine areas as rising water flows at major barrages prompted ongoing evacuation and relief efforts, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon confirmed on Saturday.
According to the Sindh information department, inflows at Guddu barrage were recorded at 360,976 cusecs with an outflow of 325,046 cusecs, while Sukkur barrage reported inflows of 329,648 cusecs and outflows of 278,398 cusecs. At Kotri barrage, inflows stood at 237,922 cusecs and outflows at 215,567 cusecs.
Upstream at Trimmu barrage, both inflow and outflow were recorded at 436,651 cusecs, while Panjnad barrage reported 321,570 cusecs. Taunsa barrage recorded an inflow of 238,312 cusecs and an outflow of 224,872 cusecs.
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said fluctuations in water levels at dams and barrages are being closely monitored, and the provincial government remains fully alert to protect lives and property.
He said 12,449 more people were shifted from katcha areas to safe locations in the past 24 hours, raising the total number evacuated to 121,769. A total of 14,495 livestock have also been moved to safety.
Memon added that 155 fixed and mobile health camps set up by the government have provided medical facilities to 5,848 people in the past 24 hours, with a cumulative 33,803 treated so far.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) dispatched boats equipped with outboard motors to commissioners’ offices in Sukkur, Larkana and Shaheed Benazirabad, as well as to the Pakistan Navy in Sukkur and Rescue 1122 in Hyderabad.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast widespread thunderstorms with heavy to very heavy rains across Sindh from September 7 to 13, warning of torrential downpours and significant flood risks.
Punjab floods situation
According to the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD), scattered to widespread thunderstorms with isolated heavy falls are also expected in eastern Balochistan and parts of Punjab, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Sahiwal, Multan, DG Khan and Bahawalpur divisions. Meanwhile, isolated showers may affect Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Sargodha divisions.
The department warned of exceptionally high flood levels in the Sutlej River at Ganda Singh Wala, while the Chenab at Panjnad could reach high to very high flood levels within 24 hours. The Indus River at Guddu is likely to attain high flood levels between September 8 and 9.
Flash flooding is feared in DG Khan, Rajanpur, the Kirthar Range and parts of eastern Balochistan, while urban flooding is likely in major Sindh cities between September 7 and 9. Authorities urged continuous monitoring, noting the forecast is being updated daily.
Flooding in the Chenab and Sutlej rivers has caused widespread devastation across southern Punjab, displacing hundreds of thousands of people and inundating large swathes of farmland, according to official flood reports and district updates.
At Head Muhammad Wala near Multan, the water level of the Chenab River has begun to fall, reducing the threat of breaching the Muhammad Wala road and Shershah embankment. However, floodwaters have already engulfed 138 villages in Multan district, leaving an estimated 350,000 people homeless. Residents reported that many flood victims remain without access to food.
At Shershah Bridge, inflow was recorded at 393,300 cusecs, while at Panjnad headworks, the inflow rose to 321,721 cusecs on Saturday morning, with levels continuing to rise. The Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) classified the situation at Panjnad as “high flood.”
In Muzaffargarh, floodwaters from the Chenab swept through adjoining settlements, destroying houses, crops, and infrastructure. The rising flood at Panjnad has also raised the risk for Uch Sharif and Bahawalpur areas, where authorities have opened gates to manage the flow.
On the Sutlej river, water levels at Islam headworks stood at 103,465 cusecs, maintaining medium flood status. Flooding has devastated areas in Vehari, where breaches in protective embankments submerged villages and farmland. The Irrigation Department warned of another major flood wave in the next two days.
The Ravi River showed declining levels, with inflows at Sidhnai headworks recorded at 101,225 cusecs after a protective embankment was deliberately breached earlier in the week.
On the other hand, the Indus river at Kot Mithan in Rajanpur continued to flow in high flood, with water discharge reaching 435,000 cusecs.
Authorities said relief operations are underway, but affected communities in Multan, Muzaffargarh, Vehari and Bahawalpur reported inadequate assistance.
