Flood Situation Update August 29, 2025

Flooding across Punjab has reached alarming levels as of August 29, 2025, with several major rivers overflowing and causing devastation across both urban and rural areas. In Lahore, floodwater from the Ravi River breached the temporary protective barrier at Park View City, allowing water to enter the Crystal Block and forcing authorities to issue urgent evacuation calls. Residents have been advised to vacate immediately as the rising water level threatens both safety and property. The Flood Forecasting Division confirmed exceptionally high flood levels in the Ravi River at Shahdara, where nearly 220,000 cusecs are passing, while Balloki Headworks recorded an outflow of over 112,000 cusecs, and Jassar remained under medium flood with nearly 98,000 cusecs.

The Chenab River is facing the worst floods. At Chiniot Bridge, the water flow has gone up to 674,000 cusecs, while at Qadirabad it reached over 1 million cusecs, causing very dangerous conditions and damage to the headworks. At Khanki, nearly 982,000 cusecs of water were recorded, and at Marala, about 281,000 cusecs. At Trimmu Barrage, almost 900,000 cusecs are passing through, and officials may have to make controlled cuts to protect nearby areas like Jhang. The Sutlej River is also in high flood, with around 261,000 cusecs at Ganda Singh Wala.

With three rivers overflowing at the same time, the crisis is spreading quickly. Dams and reservoirs are also under pressure. Tarbela is full, Mangla is almost 80% full, and smaller dams like Khanpur, Rawal, and Simly are also close to capacity. Because of the flooding, more than 1 million people have been evacuated across Punjab. Most of them are from areas near the Chenab River, while thousands more have been moved from the Sutlej and Ravi regions. In Lahore alone, over 20,000 people living in low-lying areas have been evacuated, and the situation in Park View City shows how even developed areas are at risk.

Rescue teams, including the army, PDMA, NDMA, and Rescue 1122, are working to save people and move them to safer places. Relief camps have been set up, and food, water, and medical help are being provided to those affected. Still, more than 1,600 villages are already underwater, and large parts of farmland have been destroyed. Experts say these floods could be as bad as the 1988 floods, one of the worst in Pakistan’s history.

Mr. Amjad Gulzar, Executive Director of Caritas Pakistan, along with the Caritas Pakistan Lahore team, visited the flood-affected areas along the Ravi River to assess the situation firsthand. Meanwhile, Caritas Pakistan’s Emergency Response Teams (ERTs) are actively working on the ground across the country, providing support and assistance to families impacted by the floods.