Pakistan is facing its biggest flood since 1988, according to the recent statistics and data shared by the official authorities in Pakistan overseeing the relief and rescue operations in Punjab.
Authorities deliberately breached dykes near Qadarabad Headwork, Mandi Bhaudin, and Khanki Headworks, Wazirabad, Gujarat, to save the irrigation systems, lives, and properties. Breaches were carried out on the instructions of the CM, Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, as confirmed by Commissioner Naveed Haider Shirazi.
Hundreds of villages in Gujarat, Wazirabad, and Mandi Bhaudin were affected by a high flood in the River Chenab. Over 1 million cusecs of floodwater passed through Khanki Headworks, the worst flood since 1988. From Marala Headworks to Khanki Headworks, at least 66 villages are badly hit. This has been recorded as the worst flooding in the Gujarat district since 1992. More than 1,080 people were rescued in Gujarat districts by Wednesday evening, and around 930 animals were evacuated.
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Farmers rescued scores of cattle from low-lying riverbank villages. Evacuation of stranded people and cattle has continued for 24 hours by the NDMA, the Pakistan Army, and local rescue officials. The Phalko drain overflowed near Wazirabad railway station at 35,000 cusecs, having only a capacity of 26,000. Floodwater entered residential areas in Sialkot Road, affecting road links, including routes to Sialkot Airport, which forced the airport authorities to halt operations on Wednesday.
The district administration of Gujarat and Sialkot declared a local holiday on Wednesday due to flooding. Gujarat DC N.Kureshi and DPO Rana Umar Farooq supervised rescue operations on the site. Appeals have been made to residents near the Chenab banks to move to safer areas. Despite the warning, however, large crowds gathered on bridges to watch the floodwater, causing traffic jams on GT Road.
Meanwhile, in the coming days, a strong monsoon current from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal is expected to hit on 29th August. A westerly wave will hit the upper central parts of Pakistan from 30th August. Forecasts of widespread heavy rainfall across Punjab, Islamabad, Kashmir, KP, Sindh, and Balochistan have been shared from 29th August to September 2nd, worsening the flood.