•Over 4,500 affected villages; 2,000 teams conducted surveys
•118 deaths reported in flood events
•Sutlej Floods Rakage Multan, Lodhran, Bahawalpur
•NHA race to restore damaged parts of M-5 highway
Lahore: Following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s instructions, the Punjab government announces that it will launch a full-scale soon Damage Assessment Investigation In 28 affected areas in the province.
The decision to conduct the investigation was held at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman on Wednesday.
The meeting reviewed the ongoing flood mitigation and rehabilitation efforts in the province and assessed the local government’s preparation for the effective allocation of assistance, the restoration of damaged infrastructure, and the deployment of health services in affected areas.
The Chief Secretary directed additional tents and food supplies to flooded communities in Uch Sharif. He directed Deputy Commissioner Bahawalpur (DC) to stay in the field and to personally monitor relief operations in the area.
Mr Zaman said a survey will soon begin to assess the loss of human life during the flood and the damage to houses, crops and livestock.
DC has been instructed to personally monitor the on-site investigation process to ensure transparency and accuracy.
The Chief Secretary also stressed the rapid drainage of flood stagnation, prevention of disease outbreaks, improving sanitation and restoration of road connectivity in affected areas.
“As the water level retreats, the water blocks must be removed without delay,” he said.
Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed told the meeting that more than 4,500 villages have been affected by the recent flooding. More than 2,000 teams are mobilizing for evaluation. Families on display in the Narowal, Siolot, Chiniot, Jhang, Okara, Sahiwal and Sargodha areas have now begun returning home.
The meeting was attended by other chief secretary of other departments, the finance minister and other senior officials. Departmental specialists and deputy specialists from all over the province attended the meeting through video links.
Sutlej soars
Meanwhile, the water level of the Sutlej River continues to rise, flooding the sluggish areas of Multan, Bahawalpur and Lordland.
Four days ago, Noraja Bhutta Dyke broke down and flooded several coalition commissions of Jalalpur Pirwala, including Noraja Bhutta, Basti Lang, Basti Lang, Bahadurpur, Dipal, Sundra, Sundra, Kanu, Kanu, Kanu, Jando, Beetowali, Beetowali and Kotla Chakar.
save Jalalpur Pirwala The city, regional government conducted a controlled violation on Gillani Road, turning the water to the village and Kutcha areas.
The flood destroyed Multan-Sukkur Expressway (M-5) At five o’clock, along the expressways in Multan, Lordland and Bahawalpur regions, spreading to villages, including Phagal Marhi, Hayatpur, Jhanmp, Soiwala and Muradpur.
The flood also reached Uch Sharif, flooding settlements near Jhangra and Basti Mir Chakar Rind. The Multan-uch Sharif motorway section has been closed for traffic in more than five locations recently. National Highway Administration (NHA) officials and police are performing transfers, reopening depends on water levels and repairs.
If the authorities retreated in Alipur Tehsil in Muzaffargarh, the authorities recovered nine bodies from the flooded areas, and they drowned during the flood.
Wasem Yousuf, Multan Regional Administrative Spokesperson, told dawn As Chenab levels drop, a major flood in Sutlej is expected to reach Jalalpur within a few days, threatening the neighboring villages of Lodhran and Bahawalpur.
Relief Commissioner Javed said 118 people died in various flood-related accidents. He said 4.7 million people of 47,000 Mouzas were affected, with 2.6 million people and 2M cattle evacuation. A total of 337 relief camps, 429 medical camps and 368 veterinary camps were established.
He said the Mangra dam is 95% full, Tarbela is full, while the Bhakra Dam in India is 88%, Pong is 94% and thein 88pc.
A Punjab PDMA spokesman said almost all major rivers in Punjab were dropping at water levels, including Gillam, Sutri, Ravi and Schnab.
“The low-level flood in Panjnad continues with water level of 148,450, while Ganda Singh Wala continues to be in the moderate level of 95,000 Cuseecs,” he said.
He said the water level of Sulemanki Headworks rose to 88,238 Cuseecs, while the Islamic high pressure stabilization was 71.751.
Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman said earlier that the government will soon start an investigation to assess flood losses in 28 affected areas of the province. He chaired a meeting to monitor rehabilitation and directed the authorities to ensure drainage in flood-affected areas and road recovery.
The Chief Secretary also directed the immediate delivery of other tents and rations to areas affected by the flood, especially UCH Sharif in Bahawalpur, to direct authorities to remain in the field to monitor relief arrangements.
Highway damage
The NHA said Wednesday that its team is locking up work to restore damaged areas of the M-5 highway near Jalalpur Pirwala.
In a statement, the temporary recovery of a lane has been achieved as engineers and experts continue to maintain permanent repairs. Federal Communications Secretary Ali Sher Mehsud and NHA Chairman Shehryar Sultan have been monitoring the situation on site.
Several parts of the expressway were damaged after the protective embankment broke under flood pressure in the Chenab and Sutlej rivers. Traffic is shifted to the alternative highway until a complete repair is completed.
Syed Irfan Raza of Islamabad also contributed to this report
Posted in Dawn on September 18, 2025
