Punjab floods intensify: Evacuations, relief camps and critical alerts in Multan, Muzaffargarh & Rajanpur

Severe floods in Punjab’s Multan, Muzaffargarh, and Rajanpur after Chenab, Sutlej, and Ravi overflow, forcing mass evacuations, damaging homes, crops, and infrastructure as authorities issue fresh flood alerts across Pakistan.

By News Desk

LAHORE — Punjab is battling an unprecedented flood crisis, with the Sutlej, Chenab, and Ravi rivers in simultaneous “super-flood” mode. The deluge, driven by heavy monsoon rains and cross-border water releases, has triggered one of the largest rescue responses in the province’s history.

Provincial Overview

Nearly 750,000 people have been evacuated across Punjab. Over 2 million residents and 2,200 villages are affected, with the death toll in the province rising by 33 this week.
Punjab Chief Minister’s office reports 746,664 people and nearly 500,000 livestock safely relocated.
Rescue efforts include deployment of over 800 boats, 1,300 personnel, and establishment of nearly 1,100 relief and medical camps.
Flood-related illnesses like diarrhea, skin infections, and malaria are on the rise due to stagnant, contaminated water.

Multan

Thousands have been evacuated from Multan and nearby areas via boats amid the surging Ravi and swelling water levels.
In Shujabad and Jalalpur Pirwala, a breach in the Sutlej embankment has put about 64 villages at immediate risk.
Multan officials report critical shortages of boats and inadequate evacuation arrangements for livestock.

Muzaffargarh

As part of an emergency evacuation zone, the authorities are relocating residents and have set up temporary relief camps, while schools remain closed until early September.(Dawn)
The Chief Minister specifically urged district authorities in Muzaffargarh to be “airtight” in rescue preparedness.(Dawn)

Rajanpur

Rajanpur is among the hardest-hit districts. Official relief assessment highlights thousands of threatened households in Multan-adjacent areas.
Residents continue to be relocated from low-lying, flood-prone zones as floodwaters advance.

Relief & Rescue Status

Punjab has launched its “biggest evacuation and rescue operation ever,” saving over 600,000 people.
About 1,100 relief and medical camps are active across the province, offering shelter, food, and healthcare.
Emergency ration convoys — each containing a 46-kg bag with 22 essential items — are being dispatched to districts like Narowal, Sialkot, Chiniot, and Jhang.
Controlled breaches in embankments aim to protect urban centers, while health authorities warn of an increase in disease spread.

Summary Table

District	Evacuations & Relief	Infrastructure & Health Concerns	Current Status
Multan	Active boat rescues	Embankment breaches; limited boats/livestock aid	High risk, shortages in evacuation resources
Muzaffargarh	Proactive evacuations	School closures; setup of relief camps	Preparing for surge; urgent alert zone
Rajanpur	Relocations ongoing	Thousands of threatened households	Severe risk, active relocations
Punjab (overall)	~750,000 people, ~500,000 livestock evacuated	1,100+ relief camps; ration convoys; disease outbreaks	Massive rescue effort underway

The next 48 hours are critical — forecasts warn of further surges. Districts across southern Punjab must remain vigilant as rescue operations continue to scale up amid this historic flood emergency.