LAHORE (Kashmir English): At least 22 villages in Multan district have been submerged under three to four feet of floodwater from the River Chenab, forcing thousands of residents to move to safer places.
Standing crops over large tracts have also been damaged, according to the Multan district administration’s latest flood situation report.
The report compiled by the assistant commissioners said the district has 545 mouzas (villages), of which 138 are flood-prone.
The report further said 22 mouzas have been partially inundated with up to 3-4 feet of water, including four in Multan Saddar, seven in Shujaabad and 11 in Jalalpur Pirwala tehsils.
The advancing floodwater drove thousands of people to relocate with their cattle to safer places. There are also reports of losses to cotton, fodder and other standing crops, causing substantial agricultural losses.
The district administration said no mouza had been categorised as severely affected and no formal evacuation order had been issued, adding water levels were receding and the situation was being monitored closely across all four tehsils.
Multan submerged villages
In Multan Saddar, the affected mouzas are Abu Hatta, Vellan, Dhello and Zaman Pur. In Shujaabad, floodwaters have inundated Soman, Pounta, Tahir Pur, Marha, Agar Khawani, Dhundoon and Wanis.
The largest number of affected villages is in Jalalpur Pirwala, where Ripri, Manik Wali, Jung Wala, Narol, Wacha Sandila, Shahpur Lamma, Bait Kaitch Janubi, Shehni Shumali, Shehni Janubi and Bait Qaiser, among others, have been affected.
Meanwhile, the PDMA has warned that forecast rainfall in the upper catchment areas could increase flows in the eastern rivers and adjoining nullahs, raising the risk of flash floods.
It also cautioned about possible urban flooding in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Faisalabad and Multan, and landslides in Murree, Galiyat and other hilly areas.
